e had then been moved
by his generosity to repair that injury by the noblest sacrifice
which he could make. But Lucy Robarts was not the girl to accept a
sacrifice. He had stepped forward as though he were going to clasp
her round the waist, but she receded, and got beyond the reach of his
hand. "Lord Lufton!" she said, "when you are more cool you will know
that this is wrong. The best thing for both of us now is to part."

"Not the best thing, but the very worst, till we perfectly understand
each other."

"Then perfectly understand me, that I cannot be your wife."

"Lucy! do you mean that you cannot learn to love me?"

"I mean that I shall not try. Do not persevere in this, or you will
have to hate yourself for your own folly."

"But I will persevere till you accept my love, or say with your hand
on your heart that you cannot and will not love me."

"Then I must beg you to let me go," and having so said, she paused
while he walked once or twice hurriedly up and down the room. "And
Lord Lufton," she continued, "if you will leave me now, the words
that you have spoken shall be as though they had never been uttered."

"I care not who knows they have been uttered. The sooner that they
are known to all the world the better I shall be pleased, unless
indeed--"

"Think of your mother, Lord Lufton."

"What can I do better than give her as a daughter the best and
sweetest girl I have ever met? When my mother really knows you, she
will love you as I do. Lucy, say one word to me of comfort."

"I will say no word to you that shall injure your future comfort. It
is impossible that I should be your wife."

"Do you mean that you cannot love me?"

"You have no right to press me any further," she said; and sat down
upon the sofa, with an angry frown upon her forehead.

"By heavens," he said, "I will take no such answer from you till you
put your hand upon your heart, and say that you cannot love me."

"Oh, why should you press me so, Lord Lufton?"

"Why, because my happiness depends upon it; because it behoves me to
know the very truth. It has come to this, that I love you with my
whole heart, and I must know how your heart stands towards me." She
had now again risen from the sofa, and was looking steadily in his
face.

"Lord Lufton," she said, "I cannot love you," and as she spoke she
did put her hand, as he had desired, upon her heart.

"Then God help me! for I am wretched. Good-bye, Lucy," and he
stretched out