He entered at once into the scheme con amore; and the two discussed ways and means.

Leonard's only regret was that he was associated with a little girl in such a project.

It was something of a blow to his personal vanity, which was a large item in his moral equipment, that such a project should have been initiated by the girl and not by himself.

He was to get possession of the key and in the forenoon of the next day he was to be waiting in the churchyard, when Stephen would join him as soon as she could evade her nurse.

She was now more than eleven, and had less need of being watched than in her earlier years.