and proudly. Her eyes met his undauntedly: her head
was held high, her step was firm as she moved towards the door. If she
trembled internally, she showed at least no sign of fear.

"Ah, I knew that you would be angry at first," said Hugo; "but you will
listen to me, and you will understand----"

"I will not listen. I do not want to understand," cried Kitty, with a
slight stamp of her little foot. "Angry at first! Do you think I shall
ever forgive you? I shall never see you nor speak to you again. Let me
pass."

Hugo had still been kneeling, but he now rose to his feet and confronted
her. The flush was dying out of his face, but his eyes retained their
unnatural brightness still.

"You cannot pass that door just yet," he said, with sudden, dangerous
calmness. "You must wait until I let you go. You ask if I think you will
ever forgive me? Yes, I do. You say you will never see me or speak to me
again? I say that you will see me many times, and speak to me in a very
different tone before you leave Netherglen."

"Be kind enough to stand out of the way and open the door for me," said
Kitty, with supreme contempt. "I do not want to hear any more of this
nonsense."

"Nonsense, do you call it? You will give it a very different name before
long, my fair Kitty. Do you think I am in play? Do you think I should
risk--what I have risked, if I meant to gain nothing by it? I am in
sober, solemn earnest, and know very well what I am doing, and what I
want to gain."

"What can you gain," said Kitty, boldly facing him, "except disgrace and
punishment? What do you think my father will say to you for bringing me
away from Edinburgh on false pretences? What will you tell my brother
when he comes home?"

"As for your brother," said Hugo, with a sneer, "he is not very likely
to come home again at all. His ship has been wrecked, and all lives
lost. As for your father----"

He was interrupted by a passionate cry from the girl's pale lips.

"Wrecked! Percival's ship lost! Oh, it cannot be true!"

"It is true enough--at least report says so. It may be a false report!"

"It must be a false report! You would not have the heart to tell me the
news so cruelly if it were true! But no, I forgot. You made me believe
that my father was dying; you do not mind being cruel. Still, I don't
believe you. I shall never again believe a word you say. Oh! Percival,
Percival!" And then, to prove how little she believed him, Kitty burst
into tears, a