It's beautiful....' He took her other hand and held the two covered over by his own as he said with an odd solemnity: 'Lady Bridget O'Hara will you come away with me to the Bush, leaving everything else behind you ?' She stood very slender and erect, her eyes shining in the moonlight out of her small pale face and fixed upon him thoughtfully as if she were weighing his proposition.

After a few minutes, she answered deliberately.
'Yes, Mr Colin McKeith, I will go away with you into the Bush, leaving everything else behind me--the old "Lady Bridget O'Hara" included.' He gave an indescribable ejaculation--joy, surprise, triumph--all were in the utterance.

Dropping her hands, he stooped to her and his arm went round her.
'Oh! Biddy ...

darling.' She knew he wanted to kiss her, and that he scarcely dared so greatly....

As his beard brushed her cheek, she shrank and moved a step from him.