He was waiting for her answer. She smiled at the thought.

"My darling Hubert, my love, my king, as though it could be anything
else but yes--yes, a thousand times yes!" she murmured.

But even in this moment of ecstatic joy, the sword of destiny fell
swiftly and unerringly upon her hapless golden head.

God pity and help her in her mortal anguish, for in this moment she
remembered that she had given Hubert's mother her sacred promise, nay,
her _vow_, that she would never cross her son's path again.

When the nurse returned, after the lapse of perhaps a quarter of an
hour, to Jessie's bedside, she found the girl sobbing as though her
heart would break, and the letter torn into a thousand pieces, which
were fluttering over the counterpane.

"I hope you have not heard any bad news, Miss Bain," she said,
earnestly.

Jessie raised her tear-stained face from her hands, and smiled up into
her face, the most pitiful smile that ever was seen.

"I have heard music so sweet that it might have opened up heaven to me,
if fate had not been against me," she murmured, with quivering lips, the
tears starting afresh to her blue eyes.

These words completely puzzled the old nurse. But ere she could utter
the words on her lips, Jessie continued:

"I wish I could have some writing materials; I should like to answer
this letter which I have received."

"Do you think you feel strong enough to attempt to write it now?" she
asked dubiously.

"Yes," said Jessie; adding under her breath: "I must write it quickly,
while I have the courage to do it."

The pen which she held trembled in her hand. But at length, after many
futile attempts, she penned the following epistle:

"Dear Mr. Varrick,--Your letter has just reached me, and oh! I can
not tell you how happy your words made me. But, Mr. Varrick, it can
not be; we are destined by a fate most cruel, to be nothing to each
other. I may as well tell you the truth-- I do love you with all my
heart. But there is a barrier between us which can never be
bridged over in this world. Your mother knows what it is; she will
tell you about it.

"I intend leaving this place to-day, and going out into the
coldness and darkness of the world. Please do not attempt to find
me, as seeing you again would only be more pitiful for me. But take
this assurance with you down to the very grave: I shall always love
you while my life lasts. Your image, and you