cumstances, and the decision does not
altogether rest with us. Indeed, Miss Campion, my future movements are
quite uncertain until I have obtained your answer to a question which I
want to put to you. May I put it now?"

"If there is anything I can tell you--" said Lettice, not without
difficulty. Her breath came quick, and her bosom heaved beneath her
light dress with nervous rapidity. What could he have to say to her? She
had refused all these weeks to face the idea which had been forcing
itself upon her; and he had been so quiet, so unemotional, that until
now she had never felt uneasy in his presence.

"You can tell me a great deal," said Brooke, looking down at her with
increased earnestness and tenderness in his eyes and voice. Her face was
half averted from him, but he perceived her emotion, and grew more
hopeful at the sign. "You can tell me all I want to know; but, unless
you have a good message for me, I shall wish I had not asked you my
question, and broken through the friendly terms of intercourse from
which I have derived so much pleasure, and which have lasted so long
between us."

Why did he pause? What could she say that he would care to hear?

"Listen to me!" he said, sinking down on the seat beside her, and
pleading in a low tone. "I am not a very young man. I am ten or twelve
years older than yourself. But if I spoke with twice as much passion in
my voice, and if I had paid you ten times as much attention and court as
I have done, it would not prove me more sincere in my love, or more
eager to call you my wife. You cannot think how I have been looking
forward to this moment--hoping and fearing from day to day, afraid to
put my fate to the test, and yet impatient to know if I had any chance
of happiness. I loved you in London--I believe I loved you as soon as I
knew you; and it was simply and solely in order to try and win your love
that I followed you to Italy. Is there no hope for me?"

She did not answer. She could not speak a word, for a storm of
conflicting feelings was raging in her breast. Feelings only--she had
not begun to think.

"If you will try to love me," he went on, "it will be as much as I have
dared to hope. If you will only begin by liking me, I think I can
succeed in gaining what will perfectly satisfy me. All my life shall be
devoted to giving you the happiness which you deserve. Lettice, have you
not a word to say to me?"

"I cannot--" she whispered at length, so faintly th