Oh, my precious, what is it ?" he cried in alarm, as the fitful light of the gas lamp that hung over the arched gate fell full upon her.

"Your sweet face is as white as marble, and your beautiful golden hair is wet with drifted snow, as is your cloak." To his intense amazement and distress, she burst into the wildest of sobs and clung to him like a terrified child.

All in vain he attempted to soothe her and find out what it was all about.
The first thought that flashed through his mind was that their meetings had been discovered, and that they meant to put him from Faynie, and he strained her closer to his heart, crying out that whatever it was, nothing save death should separate them.
Little by little the story came out, and the two young lovers, clasped so fondly in each other's arms, did not feel the intense cold or hear the wild moaning of the winds around them.

Through her tears Faynie told her handsome, strong young lover just what had happened.

Her father had sent for her to come to his library that morning, and when she had complied with the summons, he had informed her that a friend of his had asked for her hand in marriage, and he had consented, literally settling the matter without consulting her, the one most vitally interested.