ar, dear, darling boy, I love you beyond expression. Kiss,
oh, kiss me! my darling! and comfort me, because I love you all too
well."

Then, again, there was a change, she seemed to fear she had said too
much, and turned away her head and tears started to her eyes, but her
arms did not relax the embrace in which she held me. I was deeply moved
at her evident agitation. I thought she was really ill, and suffering
greatly; so I threw my arms round her neck, kissing her tenderly, and
weeping myself, tried to comfort her in my inexperienced way, sobbing
out--

"Oh, dear, dear Miss Evelyn, do be comforted, I so dearly love you that
it makes my heart bleed to see you so unhappy. Oh, let me see you
smile, and do try not to cry so. Why are you so unhappy and low
spirited? Oh, that I could do anything to make you happy?" And
redoubling my endearments, she again turned her lovely face to me.
Again there was the unnatural fire in her eyes, and a hectic glow
flushed her cheek.

"You darling angel of a boy; it is you that makes me so unhappy."

I started back in surprise.

"I make _you_ unhappy! Oh! Miss Evelyn, how can that be, when I adore
the very ground you stand on, and love (_sobbing_)--love (_sob_)--love
you more than anything in the world."

She seized my head in her two lands, glued her lips to mine, gave me a
long, long kiss of love; then, pressing me to her bosom--

"Oh, say that again, my loved, my darling boy; it is the love I feel
for you that is breaking my heart, but I can resist it no longer. Will
my Charlie love his Evelyn always as he does now?"

"Oh, how could I do otherwise? I have worshipped you from the first
moment of your arrival, and have had no other idea. What can I do to
prove it--try, oh, try me. I have never breathed a syllable of my love
for you, even to yourself, let alone other people."

Her eyes, sparkling with passion, were searching the depths of mine, as
if to fathom my thoughts. I, too, began to feel my amorous passions
excited by her warm embraces and kisses. She held me tight to her body,
and could not help feeling the hard substance that jutted out against
her.

"I believe you, my Charlie, and will trust you with my life--with more,
with my honour! I can no longer resist my fate. But, oh! Charlie, love
me always, for I run a fearful risk in loving you as I do."

She again drew me to her lips, my hands clasped her neck in a close
embrace. Her hands wandered--pressed upon my thro