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