be ill?"

"No!" she answered, in a hollow, far-off sounding voice. "No! But come
with me--somewhere--where I can--breathe! Come down to the shore, Le. I
have something to tell you."

He stepped back into the hall, hastily drew on his overcoat, seized his
hat and gloves, and rejoined her, still in some anxiety, but without the
least suspicion of the blow that was about to fall upon him.

He drew her arm within his own, and holding and fondling her hand, led her
down the steps, across the lawn to the east gate, and down the wooded hill
to the shore.

"No; I do not wish to walk further. We will rest here," she said, as soon
as they had reached the sands. And she sank wearily upon the rude wooden
bench that stood on the beach just above the water mark.

He sat down beside her, took her hand, looked into her pale face, and
tenderly questioned:

"What has happened to distress you, darling? Is anyone you care for sick
or in trouble? Can I help you, then? You know I would aid to my last
dollar if it were any one you cared for," he said, caressing the little
fingers he toyed with.

"Oh, Le! Le!" she moaned.

"Odalite!" he whispered, in an access of anxiety, "is any one--dead? Tell
me! I have just come, and know nothing. Is any one--dead?"

"Oh, no! No, Le! No one is dead. I--I wish to Heaven some one were!"

"Odalite!"

"Not any one we love, Le. Oh, Le! I will tell you as soon as I can.
Something has happened. I--I brought you out here to tell you. But, oh,
Le! Le! dear Le! how shall I tell you?"

"My darling Odalite, what?"

"Don't speak to me, Le! Don't speak! Listen! Le, hate me! scorn me! I
deserve that you should. Oh, no! no! Don't! don't! I should go mad if you
did. But--try not to mind me; try not to care for me at all. I am not
worth it, Le. Not worth a regret--not worth a thought. I am such a poor
thing! Such a very poor thing! And I shall not last long. That is the best
of it." She breathed these last words out in a low, long-drawn sigh,
dropping her head upon her bosom and her arms upon her lap.

"Oh, my dear Odalite, what is the meaning of all this? What ails you? What
misfortune has happened to you? Have you lost your health? Oh, my own, own
darling! is it so? You are so pale and cold and faint! That must be it.
You have lost your health. But do you think I would give you up for that?
Oh, no, no, no, my precious! That would make me only more your own devoted
Le than ever before. I would care for you