o much proof of her
unworthiness.

'Elfride, we must bid good-bye to compliment,' said Knight: 'we must
do without politeness now. Look in my face, and as you believe in God
above, tell me truly one thing more. Were you away alone with him?'

'Yes.'

'Did you return home the same day on which you left it?'

'No.'

The word fell like a bolt, and the very land and sky seemed to suffer.
Knight turned aside. Meantime Elfride's countenance wore a look
indicating utter despair of being able to explain matters so that they
would seem no more than they really were,--a despair which not only
relinquishes the hope of direct explanation, but wearily gives up all
collateral chances of extenuation.

The scene was engraved for years on the retina of Knight's eye: the
dead and brown stubble, the weeds among it, the distant belt of beeches
shutting out the view of the house, the leaves of which were now red and
sick to death.

'You must forget me,' he said. 'We shall not marry, Elfride.'

How much anguish passed into her soul at those words from him was told
by the look of supreme torture she wore.

'What meaning have you, Harry? You only say so, do you?'

She looked doubtingly up at him, and tried to laugh, as if the unreality
of his words must be unquestionable.

'You are not in earnest, I know--I hope you are not? Surely I belong to
you, and you are going to keep me for yours?'

'Elfride, I have been speaking too roughly to you; I have said what I
ought only to have thought. I like you; and let me give you a word of
advice. Marry your man as soon as you can. However weary of each other
you may feel, you belong to each other, and I am not going to step
between you. Do you think I would--do you think I could for a moment? If
you cannot marry him now, and another makes you his wife, do not reveal
this secret to him after marriage, if you do not before. Honesty would
be damnation then.'

Bewildered by his expressions, she exclaimed--

'No, no; I will not be a wife unless I am yours; and I must be yours!'

'If we had married----'

'But you don't MEAN--that--that--you will go away and leave me, and not
be anything more to me--oh, you don't!'

Convulsive sobs took all nerve out of her utterance. She checked them,
and continued to look in his face for the ray of hope that was not to be
found there.

'I am going indoors,' said Knight. 'You will not follow me, Elfride; I
wish you not to.'

'Oh no; indeed, I will not.