Then she took a straw hat from the hall, and flinging a
mantilla about her, went out into the grounds, ready to weep anywhere,
if she could but be alone.

CHAPTER XV.

THE STOLEN JOURNAL.

Ralph saw Lina pass, from the breakfast-room window, and his heart smote
him. What had she done, poor, dear girl, to warrant his present
feelings? What evil spirit possessed him to think ill of her, so pure,
so truly good, as she was?

Ralph took his hat and followed Lina through the grounds, up to a hollow
in the hills, where a great white pine tree sheltered a spring that
sparkled out from its roots, like a gush of diamonds. It was a heavy
day, not without flashes of sunshine, but sombre heaps of clouds drifted
to and fro across the sky, and the wet earth was literally carpeted with
leaves beaten from their branches by the storm. Amid all these dead
leaves, and within the gloomy shadow of the pine, Lina sat alone
weeping. She heard Ralph's tread upon the wet foliage, and arose as if
to flee him, for with all her gentleness, Lina was proud, and his
presence made her ashamed of the tears that her little hand had no power
to dash entirely away.

"Lina," said Ralph, holding out his hand, rejoiced by her tears, for he
longed to think that she was offended by his rudeness in the dusky room,
"Lina, forgive me. I was a brute to wound you with my rough ways."

Lina turned away and sobbed. "It was not that, Ralph. You were only
silent, not rude. But I have seen your mother this morning. Oh, Ralph,
she will never consent to it--we must give each other up."

"What did she say? Tell me, Lina, tell me!" cried Ralph, full of
emotion.

"She said nothing, Ralph, but her face--for a moment it was terrible.
Then she fainted!"

"Fainted, Lina!--my mother?"

"I thought her dead, she looked so cold and white. Oh, Ralph, if my
words had killed her, what would have become of us?"

"Lina, you astonish me. My mother is not a woman to faint from
displeasure. It is the effect of her accident. You should not have
spoken to her now!"

"I could not help it. Indeed, I was so happy, and it seemed right and
natural to tell her first of all."

"But, what did you tell her, darling?"

Lina looked up, and regarded him gratefully through her tears.

"I don't know--something that displeased her--that almost killed her, I
am afraid."

"Don't cry, don't, Lina--it will all come out right."

"No, no--I feel it--I know it--we must give each other