tears in Mary's sweet grey eyes, and they
clung upon the lashes and lay wet upon her cheeks; but that sunshine
made them flash irradiant with joy before the black cloud closed in
again, and John Grange's pale face grew convulsed with agony, as he
shrank from her, only holding her hands in his with a painful clasp;
while, as she gazed at him wildly, startled by the change, she saw that
his eyes seemed to be staring wildly at her, so bright, unchanged, and
keen that it was impossible to believe that they were blank, so plainly
did they bespeak the agony and despair in the poor fellow's breast.

"John," she cried excitedly, "what is it? Shall I go for help? You are
in terrible pain?"

"Yes, yes, dear," he moaned; "pain so great that it is more than I can
bear. No, no, don't go, not for a minute, dear; but go then, never to
come near me more. Don't, don't tempt me. God help me and give me
strength."

"John, dear," he whispered piteously, as she clung to his hands, and he
felt her press towards him till the throbbings of her heart beat upon
his wrists.

"No, no," he groaned. "Mary, dear, let me tell you while I have
strength. I should be no man if I was silent now. I shouldn't be
worthy of you, dear, nor of the love you have shown me you could have
given."

"John, John!"

"Don't, don't speak to me like that," he groaned, "or you will make me
forget once more, and speak to you as I did just now. I was half mad
with joy, beside myself with the sweet delight. But 'tis taking a
coward's, a cruel advantage of you in your innocence and love. Mary,
Mary dear," he said faintly; and could those eyes which stared so
blankly towards her have seen, he would have gazed upon the calm,
patient face, upon which slowly dawned a gentle tenderness, as she bent
lower and lower as if longing to kiss his hands, which she caressed with
her warm breath, while she listened to his words.

"Listen, dear," he said, "and let me tell you the truth before you say
good-bye, and go back to pray for me--for your own dear self--that we
may be patient and bear it. Time will make it easier, and by and by we
can look back upon all this as something that might have been."

"Yes," she said gently, and she raised her face a little as she knelt by
the couch to gaze fondly in his eyes.

"I am going away, dear, and it is best, for what we have said must be
like a dream. Mary, dear, you will not forget me, but you must think of
me as a poor br