you were so like--like
FABIO! I fancied," and she shuddered, "that I saw his ghost!"

I supported her to a chair near the window, which I threw open for air,
though the evening was cold.

"You are fatigued and overexcited," I said calmly, "your nature is too
imaginative. No; I am not related to the Romanis, though possibly I may
have some of their mannerisms. Many men are alike in these things. But
you must not give way to such fancies. Rest perfectly quiet, you will
soon recover."

And pouring out a glass of water I handed it to her. She sipped it
slowly, leaning back in the fauteuil where I had placed her, and in
silence we both looked out on the November night. There was a moon, but
she was veiled by driving clouds, which ever and anon swept asunder to
show her gleaming pallidly white, like the restless spirit of a
deceived and murdered lady. A rising wind moaned dismally among the
fading creepers and rustled the heavy branches of a giant cypress that
stood on the lawn like a huge spectral mourner draped in black,
apparently waiting for a forest funeral. Now and then a few big drops
of rain fell-sudden tears wrung as though by force from the black heart
of the sky. My wife shivered.

"Shut the window!" she said, glancing back at me where I stood behind
her chair. "I am much better now. I was very silly. I do not know what
came over me, but for the moment I felt afraid--horribly afraid!--of
YOU!"

"That was not complimentary to your future husband," I remarked,
quietly, as I closed and fastened the window in obedience to her
request. "Should I not insist upon an apology?"

She laughed nervously, and played with her ring of rose-brilliants.

"It is not yet too late," I resumed, "if on second thoughts you would
rather not marry me, you have only to say so. I shall accept my fate
with equanimity, and shall not blame you."

At this she seemed quite alarmed, and rising, laid her hand pleadingly
on my arm.

"Surely you are not offended?" she said. "I was not really afraid of
you, you know--it was a stupid fancy--I cannot explain it. But I am
quite well now, and I am only TOO happy. Why, I would not lose your
love for all the world--you MUST believe me!"

And she touched my hand caressingly with her lips. I withdrew it
gently, and stroked her hair with an almost parental tenderness; then I
said quietly:

"If so, we are agreed, and all is well. Let me advise you to take a
long night's rest: your nerves are weak