ch as might serve to rivet the
affection that ought to be withdrawn; and he was too manly and unselfish
to indulge in discussion or regret, too late as it was to change the
course to which he had offered himself and his means. To retract would
have been a breach of promise--a hasty one, perhaps, but still an
absolute vow publicly made; and in all his wretchedness he had at least
the comfort of knowing the present duty.

Afraid of last words, he would not even take leave until Owen came in
upon their silence, full of animation and eagerness to see how far his
knowledge would serve him with the book that he had brought home. Robert
then rose, and on Owen's pressing to know when he might see the engineer,
promised to go in search of him the next day, but added that they must
not expect to see himself till evening, since it would be a busy day.

Lucilla stood up, but speech was impossible. She was in no mood to
affect indifference, yet she could neither be angry nor magnanimous. She
seemed to have passed into a fresh stage of existence where she was not
yet at home; and in the same dreamy way she went on drawing Red Indians,
till by a sudden impulse she looked up and said, 'Owen, why should not I
come out with you?'

He was intent on a problem, and did not hear.

'Owen, take me with you; I will make a home for you.'

'Eh?'

'Owen, let me come to Canada, and take care of you and your child.'

He burst out laughing. 'Well done, Cilly; that beats all!'

'Am I likely to be in play?'

'If not, you are crazy. As if a man could go surveying in the backwoods
with a woman and a brat at his heels!'

Lucy's heart seemed to die within her. Nothing was left to her: hopes
and fears were alike extinct, and life a waste before her. Still and
indifferent, she laid her down at night, and awoke in the morning,
wishing still to prolong the oblivion of sleep. Anger with Robert would
have been a solace, but his dejection forbade this; nor could she resent
his high-flown notions of duty, and deem herself their victim, since she
had slighted fair warning, and repelled his attempts to address her. She
saw no resource save the Holt, now more hopelessly dreary and distasteful
than ever, and she shrank both from writing to Honor, or ending her
tantalizing intercourse with Robert. To watch over her brother was her
only comfort, and one that must soon end.

He remained immersed in trigonometry, and she was glad he should be too
m