"

"You have no personal wish, then, for my welfare?"

"Yes, I have. Your uncle is my guardian, and I may therefore be
allowed to look upon you as a friend of a longer standing than merely
of yesterday. I do regard you as a friend, and shall be glad of your
success." Here she paused, and they walked on a few steps together in
silence; and then she added, becoming still redder as she did so, but
now managing to hide her face from her companion, "Were I to answer
you in the way that you pretend to wish, I should affect either less
friendship than I feel, or much more."

"Much more!" said Bertram, with a shade of despondency in his tone.

"Yes, much more, Mr. Bertram. Why, what would you have me say?"

"Ah me! I hardly know. Nothing--nothing--I would have you say
nothing. You are quite right to say nothing." And then he walked
on again for a hundred yards in silence. "Nothing, Miss Waddington,
nothing; unless, indeed--"

"Mr. Bertram;" and as she spoke she put out her hand and gently
touched his arm. "Mr. Bertram, stop yourself; think, at any rate,
of what you are going to say. It is a pity when such as you speak
foolishly." It was singular to see how much more composed she was
than he; how much more able to manage the occasion--and yet her
feelings were strong too.

"Nothing; I would have you say nothing--nothing, unless this: that
whatever my destiny may be, you will share it with me."

As he spoke he did not look towards her, but straight before him down
the path. He did not sigh, nor look soft. There was indeed not much
capability for soft looks in his square and strongly-featured face.
He frowned rather, set his teeth together, and walked on faster than
before. Caroline did not answer him immediately; and then he repeated
his words. "I do not care for you to say anything now, unless you can
say this--that whatever your lot may be, I may share it; whatever
mine, that you will share it."

"Mr. Bertram."

"Well--"

"Now you have spoken foolishly. Do you not know that you have spoken
foolishly?"

"I have spoken truly. Do you speak as truly. You should be as much
above false girlish petty scruples, as you will be and are above
falsehood of another kind. You will never tell a man that you love
him if you do not."

"No; certainly, I never will."

"And do not deny it if it be the truth."

"But it is not the truth. How long have we known each other, Mr.
Bertram?"

"Counting by days and hours, some fortni