and looked her full in the face, and
the lines round his mouth were fixed and stern.

"No," he said with unnatural calmness, "any such exorcism would be
useless in my case; I have only come to take a last look at it."

Elizabeth's strength seemed to forsake her, and she sank down on the
boulder. "What--what do you mean?" she asked faintly.

"What do I mean?" with a bitter laugh, but his eyes flashed ominously.
"I mean that I am a coward. Cowards run away, do they not? Elizabeth, I
am beaten--I confess it--I am going to give it up. I shall come here no
more."

"No more--not come to the Wood House?" Elizabeth could scarcely gasp
out the words.

"No," he replied quietly, "not even to see your sister. I mean to tell
her so before I leave; she will understand me. Why should I come here
to be treated as you have treated me to-day? Each time I come you show
me more plainly that my love and devotion are nothing to you. Well,
dear as you are to me--God only knows how dear--I can lead my life
without you. Yes, I will free myself from my bonds--I will be no
woman's slave."

If she could only speak! The tears were running down her face now; he
must have seen them if he had looked; but as she put up her hands to
hide them, a little choking sob escaped her and reached his ear.

He bent over her and spoke in a gentler tone. "Why are you weeping,
Elizabeth? Are those tears for yourself or me?"

"For myself," she whispered; "because you are leaving me, and I want
you--I want you so."

Strong man as he was, Malcolm trembled from head to foot with the
sudden shock and revulsion. What could she mean? The next minute he was
kneeling on the ground beside her, and had drawn away her hands, so
that she was as defenceless as a child:

"I must see your face, Elizabeth," very firmly. "You are a truthful
woman, you never deceived any one; let me read the truth in your eyes.
You want me you say--does that mean you are beginning to care for me?"

"I think so;" but Elizabeth's eyes refused to meet his.

"Does it mean that you love me well enough to be my wife?" he asked
again, and his voice thrilled her through and through. Then a lovely
colour came to Elizabeth's face.

"I think I do, Malcolm," she whispered timidly. "I believe I have been
caring a long time, but I would not let myself believe it. Oh,"
dropping her hot cheek against his shoulder, "it nearly broke my heart
when you said you would never come again."

"I meant it, de