the line of life into which he had fallen, and
he confessed inwardly that the struggle to extricate himself would
be too much for him. All that had troubled him while he was yet
at Allington, but it overwhelmed him almost with dismay beneath the
hangings of Courcy Castle.

Had he not better run from the place at once? He had almost
acknowledged to himself that he repented his engagement with Lilian
Dale, but he still was resolved that he would fulfil it. He was bound
in honour to marry "that little girl," and he looked sternly up at
the drapery over his head, as he assured himself that he was a man of
honour. Yes; he would sacrifice himself. As he had been induced to
pledge his word, he would not go back from it. He was too much of a
man for that!

But had he not been wrong to refuse the result of Lily's wisdom when
she told him in the field that it would be better for them to part?
He did not tell himself that he had refused her offer merely because
he had not the courage to accept it on the spur of the moment. No.
"He had been too good to the poor girl to take her at her word." It
was thus he argued on the matter within his own breast. He had been
too true to her; and now the effect would be that they would both be
unhappy for life! He could not live in content with a family upon a
small income. He was well aware of that. No one could be harder upon
him in that matter than was he himself. But it was too late now to
remedy the ill effects of an early education.

It was thus that he debated the matter as he lay in bed,
contradicting one argument by another over and over again; but still
in all of them teaching himself to think that this engagement of his
was a misfortune. Poor Lily! Her last words to him had conveyed an
assurance that she would never distrust him. And she also, as she lay
wakeful in her bed on this the first morning of his absence, thought
much of their mutual vows. How true she would be to them! How she
would be his wife with all her heart and spirit! It was not only
that she would love him;--but in her love she would serve him to her
utmost; serve him as regarded this world, and if possible as regarded
the next.

"Bell," she said, "I wish you were going to be married too."

"Thank'ye, dear," said Bell, "Perhaps I shall some day."

"Ah; but I'm not joking. It seems such a serious thing. And I can't
expect you to talk to me about it now as you would if you were in the
same position yourself. Do