; and if you only knew
how surprised and grieved I was--how my heart ached when, instead of
finding you, your note. . . ."

"I was obliged to go to Amru," interrupted Orion. "This undertaking
compels me to leave much behind, and I am no longer the freest of the
free, as I used to be. During this dreadful breakfast I have been sitting
on thorns. But let all that pass. I came hither with a heart high with
hope--and now?--You see, Paula, this enterprise tears me in two in more
ways than you can imagine, puts me into a more critical position, and
weighs more on my mind than you can think or know--I will explain it all
to you at another time--and to bear it all, to keep up the spirit and
happy energy that I need, I must be secure of the one thing for which I
could take far greater toil and danger as mere child's play; I must
know. . . ."

"You must know," she interposed, "whether my heart is fully and wholly
open to your love. . . ."

"And whether," he added, with growing ardor, "in spite of the bitter
suffering that weighs on my wretched soul, I may hope to be happier than
the saints in bliss. O Paula, adored and only woman, may I. . . ."

"You may," she said clearly and fervently. "I love you, Orion, and shall
never, never cease to love you with my whole soul."

He flew to her side, clasped both her hands as if beside himself,
snatched them to his lips regardless of the nearness of the house, whence
ten pairs of eyes might have seen him, and covered them with burning
kisses, till she drew them from him with the entreaty: "No, no; forbear,
I entreat you. No--not now."

"Yes, now, at this very moment--or, if not, when?" he asked vehemently.
"But here, in this garden--you are right, this is no place for two human
beings so happy as we are. Come with me; come into the house and lead the
way to a spot where we may be unseen and unheard, alone with each other
and our happiness."

"No, no, no!" she hastily put in, pressing her hand to her aching brow.
"Come with me to the bench under the sycamore; it is shady there, and you
can tell me everything, and hear once more how entirely love has taken
possession of me."

He looked in her face, surprised and disappointed; but she turned towards
the sycamore and sat down beneath it. He slowly followed her. She signed
to him to take a seat by her side, but he stood up in front of her,
saying sadly and despondently.

"Always the same--always calm and cold. Is this fair, Paula? Is