supposing him capable of mr under such circumstances in her heart she felt certain for other reasons that he would not be there and she was secretly well pleased to be able to defend the major with confidence against the of selfishness mary seemed about to speak but restrained herself she only shook her head with a melancholy incredulous smile and again into silence presently they came to the crest of the hill from which the house was visible mary forward and gazed at it intently the hand she laid on the window frame was trembling her lips murmured thank heaven i miss dart understood at once that the poor girl had feared to see the blinds down you must keep up a good heart mary she said and especially in your mother s presence i you for her sake to be as brave as you can mary made a gesture of assent and pressed her companion s hand she well understood that the comparative coldness of the other s tone arose from no want of sympathy there are occasions when firmness even to severity is a greater kindness than the word the lodge gate was fastened back which was not usual and when the vehicle drew up at the the front door was opened on the instant both as miss dart s c ik s ii suggested to her � sl ss the of the ages mistress s eager inquiry the butler answered that mrs bum was as well as could be expected after her long journey of yesterday � a reply evidently learnt by heart that confirmed the s suspicions mary instantly hurried upstairs leaving miss dart alone in the hall there was nothing for her to do not even to for the luggage of the two young ladies was to follow them from in a cart as she stood hoping that mr might appear and give her some certain information of his wife s condition before her own interview with her should take place the door of the was pushed noiselessly open and a she knew though it had never shaped that word before murmured chapter xxvi outside the window it was the same room in which she had had that first interview with him on her arrival at hill when his and good humour had put her at her ease and convinced her that there was one person at least in that strange house with whom she would be able to get on but his reception of her on this occasion was very different oh happy hour he whispered beneath his breath and drew her to his breast and kissed her again and again you got my letter then she said softly as though herself for to these caresses which the consciousness that she had acknowledged her love for him made in truth a thousand times more of course i did my darling and shall wear it next my heart till you take its place was the ardent think what it has cost me not to reply to it and think he added with a glance at the door behind which they stood what a need for caution there must be which imposed upon me such a cruel silence but there is no need now said the girl withdrawing from him with a sudden impulse indeed there is darling and more than ever you will put a httle trust in me he pleaded for her face suddenly grown very grave you will not or my motives aa o v� n i outside the window say that for some time yet we must needs keep our love a secret i cannot do it � not even for your sake she answered firmly but you have done it dearest with mary it was different i owe her no such duty as i owe mrs but under her roof there must be nothing if i deceived her i should be unworthy of you you do not know how ill she is that would only make it worse � to deceive a sick perhaps a dying woman i how can you ask it of me because i love you so because the thought of any to our union drives me wild � nay there would be denial you do not know my s obstinate nature nor my father s pride i am proud too in my w y returned miss dart her figure was drawn up to its full height her eyes sparkled with a light that was new to him she was resolute it was plain to have her will and yet as he gazed upon her and bit his lip in doubt and fear he could not withhold his admiration it seemed to him that her beauty had never shone so before there is only one way he murmured mechanically give me till to morrow promise me at least this much � that for twenty four hours you will not disclose the � the relations between us i do not like it said miss dart doubtfully and yet of her doubt it was terrible to her to have to oppose him almost as terrible as that sharp quick pang at her heart � caused by she scarce knew what � which had made her step back from him a few minutes ago do you suppose i like it he exclaimed bitterly do you think it will be easy or pleasant for me for even hours to keep at a distance from you to treat you as if nothing had passed between us to put a on my lips to veil my eyes to hide the thoughts � the loving thoughts � that my soul oh � to refuge nay first request and that so slight a one i his words uttered with passionate vehemence but in suppressed scarcely audible tones melted her heart within her but what moved her even more were his pleading eyes his looks his 