"If you knew the pain they cost me to utter them!" cried he. "It is
bringing a proud heart very low to sue as humbly as I do. And for what?
Simply for time--only time. All I ask is, do not utterly reject one who
only needs your love to be worthy of it When I think of what I was when
I met you first--you!--and feel the change you have wrought in my whole
nature; how you have planted truthfulness where there was once
but doubt; how you have made hope succeed a dark and listless
indifference--when I know and feel that in my struggle to be better
it is you, and you alone, are the prize before me, and that if that be
withdrawn life has no longer a bribe to my ambition--when I think of
these, Florry, can you wonder if I want to carry away with me some small
spark that may keep the embers alive in my heart?"

"It is not generous to urge me thus," said she in a faint voice.

"The grasp of the drowning man has little time for generosity. You may
not care to rescue me, but you may have pity for my fate."

"Oh, if you but knew how sorry I am--"

"Go on, dearest. Sorry for what?"

"I don't know what I was going to say; you have agitated and confused
me so, that I feel bewildered. I shrink from saying what would pain you,
and yet I want to be honest and straightforward."

"If you mean that to be like the warning of the surgeon--I must cut deep
to cure you--I can't say I have courage for it."

For some minutes they walked on side by side without a word. At length
he said in a grave and serious tone, "I have asked your aunt, and she
has promised me that, except strictly amongst yourselves, my name is not
to be mentioned when I leave this. She will, if you care for them, give
you my reasons; and I only advert to it now amongst other last requests.
This is a promise, is it not?"

She pressed his hand and nodded.

"Will you now grant me one favour? Wear this ring for my sake; a token
of mere memory, no more! Nay, I mean to ask Milly to wear another. Don't
refuse me." He drew her hand towards him as he spoke, and slipped a
rich turquoise ring upon her finger. Although her hand trembled, and she
averted her head, she had not courage to say him no.

"You have not told us where you are going to, nor when we are to hear
from you!" said she, after a moment.

"I don't think I know either!" said he in his usual reckless way. "I
have half a mind to join Schamyl--I know him--or take a turn with the
Arabs against the French. I suppo