I pulled up short, and faced round, feeling that now, if ever, the dignity of Man, and the liberty of the subject, must be asserted. To her I merely said, ‘thanks, thanks!’ kissing my hand as I spoke; then, fixing my eyes on the idiot at her side, I hissed through my clenched teeth, ‘we shall meet again, Captain!‘

‘Sure, I hope so, Tubbs, ’ said the unconscious blockhead, ‘sharp six is the dinner hour, mind!’

A cold shiver passed over me; I had made my great effort, and had failed; I shouldered my camera again, and strode moodily on.

Two steps, and I was myself again; her eyes, I knew, were upon me, and once more I trod the gravel with an elastic tread. What mattered to me, in that moment, the whole tribe of captains? should they disturb my equanimity?

The hill was nearly a mile from the house, and I reached it tired and breathless. Thoughts of Amelia, however, bore me up. I selected the best point of view for the cottage, so as to include a farmer and cow in the picture, cast one fond look toward the distant villa, and, muttering, ‘Amelia, tis for thee!’, removed the lid of the lens; in 1 minute and 40 seconds I replaced it: ‘it is over!’ I cried in uncontrollable excitement, ‘Amelia, thou art mine!’

Eagerly, tremblingly, I covered my head with the hood, and commenced the development. Trees rather misty… well! The wind had blown them about a little; that wouldn't show much the farmer? Well, he had walked on a yard or two, and I should be sorry to state how many arms and legs he appeared with… never mind! call him a spider, a centipede, anything… the cow? I must, however reluctantly, confess that the cow had three heads, and though such an animal may be curious, it is not picturesque. However, there could be no mistake about the cottage; its chimneys were all that could be desired, and, ‘all things considered,’ I thought, ‘Amelia will…’.