not deny herself the pleasure of being near him, of seeing
him, and hearing the tones of his voice, and now and then feeling the
thrill of an accidental touch, she had enough good sense to know that
a mutual confession, that is, taking it for granted Brandon loved her,
as she felt almost sure he did, must be avoided at all hazards. It was
not to be thought of between people so far apart as they. The brink
was a delightful place, full of all the sweet ecstasies and thrilling
joys of a seventh heaven, but over the brink--well! there should be no
"over," for who was she? And who was he? Those two dreadfully stubborn
facts could not be forgotten, and the gulf between them could not be
spanned; she knew that only too well. No one better.

Brandon answered her question: "I do not know about going; I think I
shall. I have volunteered with a ship that sails in two or three weeks
from Bristol, and I suppose I shall go."

"Oh, no! do you really mean it?" It gave her a pang to hear that he
was actually going, and her love pulsed higher; but she also felt a
sense of relief, somewhat as a conscientious house-breaker might feel
upon finding the door securely locked against him. It would take away
a temptation which she could not resist, and yet dared not yield to
much longer.

"I think there is no doubt that I mean it," replied Brandon. "I should
like to remain in England until I can save enough money out of the
king's allowance to pay the debt against my father's estate, so that I
may be able to go away and feel that my brother and sisters are secure
in their home--my brother is not strong--but I know it is better for
me to go now, and I hope to find the money out there. I could have
paid it with what I lost to Judson before I discovered him cheating."
This was the first time he had ever alluded to the duel, and the
thought of it, in Mary's mind, added a faint touch of fear to her
feeling toward him.

She looked up with a light in her eyes and asked: "What is the debt?
How much? Let me give you the money. I have so much more than I need.
Let me pay it. Please tell me how much it is and I will hand it to
you. You can come to my rooms and get it or I will send it to you. Now
tell me that I may. Quickly." And she was alive with enthusiastic
interest.

"There now! you are kind again; as kind as even you can be. Be sure, I
thank you, though I say it only once," and he looked into her eyes
with a gaze she could not stand even for an