t overcome even that. And to
do this she must prostrate herself at his feet,--as, since the world
began, it has been man's province to prostrate himself at the feet of
the woman he loves.

To do this she must indeed bid adieu to the sweet bloom of her maiden
shame! But had she not done so already when, by the side of the brook
at Killancodlem, she had declared to him plainly enough her despair
at hearing that he loved that other girl? Though she were to grovel
at his feet she could not speak more plainly than she had spoken
then. She could not tell her story now more plainly than she had done
then; but,--though the chances were small,--perchance she might tell
it more effectually.

"Perhaps this will be our last walk," she said. "Come down to the
seat over the river."

"Why should it be the last? You'll be here to-morrow."

"There are so many slips in such things," she said laughing. "You may
get a letter from your constituents that will want all the day to
answer. Or your father may have a political communication to make to
me. But at any rate come." So they went to the seat.

It was a spot in the park from whence there was a distant view over
many lands, and low beneath the bench, which stood on the edge of a
steep bank, ran a stream which made a sweeping bend in this place, so
that a reach of the little river might be seen both to the right and
to the left. Though the sun was shining, the snow under their feet
was hard with frost. It was an air such as one sometimes finds in
England, and often in America. Though the cold was very perceptible,
though water in the shade was freezing at this moment, there was no
feeling of damp, no sense of bitter wind. It was a sweet and jocund
air, such as would make young people prone to run and skip. "You
are not going to sit down with all the snow on the bench," said
Silverbridge.

On their way thither she had not said a word that would disturb him.
She had spoken to him of the coming Session, and had managed to
display to him the interest which she took in his parliamentary
career. In doing this she had flattered him to the top of his bent.
If he would return to his father's politics, then would she too
become a renegade. Would he speak in the next Session? She hoped he
would speak. And if he did, might she be there to hear him? She was
cautious not to say a word of Frank Tregear, understanding something
of that strange jealousy which could exist even when he who was
jeal