were
fixed pleadingly upon mine. Something in his manner, even in his tone,
seemed to remind me of Paul. I was magnetized! For a moment I could
not move, and during that moment his hands closed upon mine.

"Adrea, is such a love as I can offer you worth nothing? What did you
tell me once was your life's ideal? Was it not the love of a strong,
true man, always faithful, always loving? No one could love you more
tenderly than I, no one could be more faithful. Until I saw you, no
woman's face had dwelt in my thoughts for a single instant. In my
heart you reign alone, Adrea! No one has been there before--no one
will come after! Such as it is, it is a kingdom of your own!"

"I do not understand you," I said slowly, withdrawing my hands. "You
talk to me of a man's love, a man's faithfulness! What do you know of
it? You are a priest!"

He threw up his hands with a sudden cry of agony. His face was white
and blanched.

"Do I not know it?" he exclaimed in a low, fierce tone. "Do you think
I yielded easily to the poisoned web you have woven around me? The
horror of it all has darkened my days, and made hideous my nights. And
yet you can taunt me with it--you, for whom I yield up conscience and
future--you, for whom I give my soul! No other man could love as I
love, Adrea!"

I looked him straight in the face and I did not spare him. What was
the use? The truth was best!

"It is folly!" I said. "If your religion is worth anything to you, let
it help you now! Let it teach you to forget me! Go away from here, and
leave unharmed the man I love. If you do not, I shall hate you!"

He caught hold of my dress. He was on his knees before me--a bent,
imploring figure.

"Too late! too late!" he cried. "My religion has gone! When love for
you crept into my heart, I became worse than a heretic. It was sin,
and the sin has spread. Oh! have mercy upon me, Adrea, have mercy upon
me! Just a little of your love. It may not be much at first, but it
will grow. Adrea, you must try--you shall try!"

I shook my gown from his trembling fingers, and looked down upon him
with contempt in my heart, and contempt in my face. The flickering
firelight cast a faint glow upon his blanched, wan features, and
their utter humility filled me with an unreasoning and unreasonable
loathing. I did not try to soften my words. I spoke out just as I
felt, and watched him rise slowly to his feet, like a hunted and
stricken animal, without a pitying word or glanc