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"I went to Eco straight away, after the night in Cathy's garden," he said, "and told her that I ain; but they were now happy tears It seemed impossible, a miracle, but Robbie had declared his love for me Robbie had wanted to marry me before he learned of the child What Eco had told was the truth I looked into his eyes, and he wiped my cheeks with his thumbs "Do not weep anyh tears It is time that I made you happy"

"Then takeup at him

He dropped his hands from my face "I prohed softly "I made a vow, too," I said "But perhaps now that we are to live as man and wife, God will release us from our foolish promises"

"What vow?" he said

"I told God that if only he would let you live, I would ask for nothing else," I said

"That even if you divorced ain, I would not complain"

His eyes filled onder now He leaned back his head and laughed "What fools we are, to believe that we can ain, and said, "I am yours, Robbie I have always been yours"

"Yes, lass, yes," he said, and his voice was fervent "You are ently and when I would have drawn closer to hi ain until we can lie in a bed together," he said "I shall treat you as if you were a queen-for you are the queen to me!"

"I don't believe there is an unoccupied bed anywhere on Brianag," I said

He groaned "Then we shall wait a while longer," he said

"There is the attic," I said, and laughed

"Much too hot at this tiain placedme back down the path "In any case, it is time we dressed for the ball"

I felt ith emotion, and trembled as we crossed the lawn At the bottom of the stairs, he placed his hand on the back of ently "I shall not allow anyone else to dance with you tonight," he said "You are to keep every dance for me If any man touches you, I shall call him out"