he said,
'For the _third_ and _last_ time, will you dance with me?' 'But you
don't waltz half as well as Captain Normanton,' I replied; 'I like
_him_ best;' and away I whirled again with the delighted hussar.

"The instant I had spoken, I felt I had gone too far. I would have
given anything to unsay those foolish words, but it was too late. When
I stopped, panting and breathless, after the dance, Cousin Latimer
came quite close to me. I never saw a face so changed: he was deadly
pale, and there was a sweet, melancholy expression in his countenance
that contrasted strangely with the wild gleam in his eye. He spoke
very low, almost softly, but in a voice I had never heard before. He
only said, 'God forgive you, dear; you try me too much.' I never saw
him again, Kate--never.

"When I heard what had happened, I was laid up for months with brain
fever. They cut all my hair off; they pinioned me; they did all that
skill and science could do, and I recovered. Would to God that I had
died! I do not think my head has ever been right since.

"Kate! Kate! would you have such feelings as mine? Should you like to
live all your life haunted by one pale face? Would you wish never to
enjoy a strain of music, a gleam of sunshine, a single, simple,
natural pleasure, because of the phantom? Be warned, my dear, before
it is too late. I tell you honestly, I never forgot him; I tell you, I
never forgave myself. What did I care for any of them, except poor
Alphonse--and I only liked Alphonse because he reminded me of the
dead. Do you think I was not a reckless woman when I married Sir Guy?

"Do you think I have not been punished and humiliated enough? Heaven
forbid, my dear, that your fate should resemble mine! I read your
feelings far more plainly than you do yourself. You have a kind,
generous, noble heart deeply attached to you. Don't be a fool, as I
was; don't throw him over for the sake of an empty-headed, flirting,
good-for-nothing roue, who will forget you in a fortnight. Strong
language, Kate, is it not? But think over what I have told you.
Good-night, dear. What would I give to yawn as honestly as you do, and
to sleep sound once again, as I used to sleep when I was a girl!"

I took my candle, and kissed Lady Scapegrace affectionately as I
thanked her, and wished her "good-night." It was already late, and my
room was quite at the other end of the house. As I sped along,
devoutly trusting I should not meet any of the gentlemen on