She had sunk into a chair, and now leaned upon her hand, and buried her
face in her handkerchief. He had never caused her any such agitation as
this before.

'You stab me with your words,' continued De Stancy. 'The experience
I have had with you is without parallel, Paula. It seems like a
distracting dream.'

'I won't be hurried by anybody!'

'That may mean anything,' he said, with a perplexed, passionate air.
'Well, mine is a fallen family, and we must abide caprices. Would to
Heaven it were extinguished!'

'What was extinguished?' she murmured.

'The De Stancys. Here am I, a homeless wanderer, living on my pay;
in the next room lies she, my sister, a poor little fragile feverish
invalid with no social position--and hardly a friend. We two represent
the De Stancy line; and I wish we were behind the iron door of our
old vault at Sleeping-Green. It can be seen by looking at us and our
circumstances that we cry for the earth and oblivion!'

'Captain De Stancy, it is not like that, I assure you,' sympathized
Paula with damp eyelashes. 'I love Charlotte too dearly for you to talk
like that, indeed. I don't want to marry you exactly: and yet I cannot
bring myself to say I permanently reject you, because I remember you
are Charlotte's brother, and do not wish to be the cause of any morbid
feelings in you which would ruin your future prospects.'

'My dear life, what is it you doubt in me? Your earnestness not to do me
harm makes it all the harder for me to think of never being more than a
friend.'

'Well, I have not positively refused!' she exclaimed, in mixed tones
of pity and distress. 'Let me think it over a little while. It is not
generous to urge so strongly before I can collect my thoughts, and at
this midnight time!'

'Darling, forgive it!--There, I'll say no more.'

He then offered to sit up in her place for the remainder of the night;
but Paula declined, assuring him that she meant to stay only another
half-hour, after which nobody would be necessary.

He had already crossed the landing to ascend to his room, when she
stepped after him, and asked if he had received his telegram.

'No,' said De Stancy. 'Nor have I heard of one.'

Paula explained that it was put in his room, that he might see it the
moment he came in.

'It matters very little,' he replied, 'since I shall see it now.
Good-night, dearest: good-night!' he added tenderly.

She gravely shook her head. 'It is not for you to express your