e for you. Did you read what Lord
Ongar had said?"

"I read what it pleased you to write."

"What it pleased me! Do you pretend to think that Lord Ongar did not
speak as he speaks there? Do you not know that those were his own words?
Do you not recognize them? Ah, yes, Lady Ongar; you know them to be
true."

"Their truth or falsehood is nothing to me. They are altogether
indifferent to me either way."

"That would be very well if it were possible; but it is not. There; now
we are at the top, and it will be easier. Will you let me have the honor
to offer you my arm? No! Be it so; but I think you would walk the
easier. It would not be for the first time."

"That is a falsehood." As she spoke she stepped before him, and looked
into his face with eyes full of passion. "That is a positive falsehood.
I never walked with a hand resting on your arm."

There came over his face the pleasantest smile as he answered her. "You
forget everything," he said--"everything. But it does not matter. Other
people will not forget. Julie, you had better take me for your husband.
You will be better as my wife, and happier, than you can be otherwise."

"Look down there, Count Pateroff--down to the edge. If my misery is too
great to be borne, I can escape from it there on better terms than you
propose to me."

"Ah! That is what we call poetry. Poetry is very pretty, and in saying
this as you do, you make yourself divine. But to be dashed over the
cliffs and broken on the rocks--in prose is not so well."

"Sir, will you allow me to pass on while you remain; or will you let me
rest here, while you return alone?"

"No, Julie; not so. I have found you with too much difficulty. In
London, you see, I could not find you. Here, for a minute, you must
listen to me. Do you not know, Julie, that your character is in my
hands?"

"In your hands? No--never; thank God, never. But what if it were?"

"Only this--that I am forced to play the only game that you leave open
to me. Chance brought you and me together in such a way that nothing but
marriage can be beneficial to either of us--and I swore to Lord Ongar
that it should be so. I mean that it shall be so--or that you shall be
punished for your misconduct to him and to me."

"You are both insolent and false. But listen to me, since you are here
and I cannot avoid you. I know what your threats mean."

"I have never threatened you. I have promised you my aid, but have used
no threats."

"Not