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the rippling waters. All this while Hugh had not spoken a word, but had walked in silence by her side. He turned to her at length, and she heard the rising passion in his voice. "You promised me," he said, "and you must keep your promise. You said you would be my wife. No other man must dare to speak to you of love," he cried, grasping her arm. "In the sight of Heaven you are mine, Beatrice Earle." "I am not," she answered proudly; "and I never will be; no man would, or could take advantage of a promise obtained from a willful, foolish child." "I will appeal to Lord Earle," he said; "I will lay my claim before him." "You may do so," she replied; "and, although he will never look upon me again, he will protect me from you." She saw the angry light flame in his eyes; she heard his breath come in quick, short gasps, and the danger of quarreling with him struck her. She laid her hand upon his arm, and he trembled at the gentle touch. "Hugh," she said, "do not be angry. You are a brave man; I know that in all your life you never shrank from danger or feared peril. The brave are always generous, always noble; think of what I am going to say. Suppose that, by the exercise of any power, you could really compel me to be your wife, what would it benefit you? I should not love you, I tell you candidly. I should detest you for spoiling my life--I would never see you. What would you gain by forcing me to keep my promise?" He made no reply. The wind bent the reeds, and the water came up the bank with a long, low wash. "I appeal to your generosity," she said--"your nobility of character. Release me from a promise I made in ignorance; I appeal to your very love for me--release me, that I may be happy. Those who love truly," she continued, receiving no reply, "never love selfishly. If I cared for any one as you do for me, I should consider my own happiness last or all. If you love me, release me, Hugh. I can never be happy with you." "Why not?" he asked, tightening his grasp upon her arm. "Not from mercenary motives," she replied, earnestly; "not because my father is wealthy, my home magnificent, and you belong to another grade of society--not for that, but because I do not love you. I never did love you as a girl should love the man she means to marry." "You are very candid," said he, bitterly; "pray, is there any one else you love in this way?" "That is beside the question," she replied, ha
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