ion her again for several moments, but forcing her head gently down
on his shoulder, he strove to soothe her with whispered words, until she
gathered strength to check her tears, and drew herself from him,
striving all the time to appear more composed.

"Now tell me, Lina, what does this mean?"

She shook her head sadly, murmuring:

"Nothing, Ralph, nothing."

"Do not trifle with me, Lina. Something must have occurred to cause this
agitation. Can you not trust me?"

"There is nothing the matter! I was ill, and--and cried without knowing
why."

"You cannot deceive me with an excuse like that. Has any one hurt your
feelings! _do_ tell me what has happened."

But Lina only shook her head, and choked back the despair which rose to
her lips. He would have taken her in his arms again, but the movement
and the touch of his hand roused her to the fearful consciousness that
she had no longer a right to seek consolation in his companionship. She
broke away, terrified and oppressed, with a feeling of guilt at her
momentary forgetfulness.

"Leave me, Ralph, I wish--I need to be alone."

"You wish--you _need_ to be alone! This is very strange, Lina! Will you
give me no explanation? Have I offended you--tell me what I can have
done? You know that I would rather die ten thousand deaths than cause
you a moment's pain."

"Do not speak so, Ralph; do not torture me by such fears. You have never
wounded me by word or look--you have always been kind and generous."

"Thank you! thank you! Then tell me what pains you! Darling, darling,
you cannot know how I suffer to see you in this state. I must have an
explanation. Lina, you have no right to refuse it."

"I can give none! Ralph, leave me, I must be alone. Another time I may
be able to converse, but now"--she broke off abruptly, wringing her
hands in impotent despair, while the great tears fell over them, like
the last heavy drops of a spent shower. "Leave me, Ralph, leave me!" she
exclaimed, with a gesture of insane agony.

"I cannot understand this! Can this be Lina--my own dear little Lina,
always so confiding and truthful? Since my earliest recollection have
you not known my every thought and wish--been as familiar with my heart
as you were with your own? This is the first time that the slightest
shadow has fallen upon your mind against me, yet there you stand,
separated from me by some fearful sorrow, to which I can obtain no
clue."

"Do not speak so, Ralph! I repeat t