for my company,' he added bitterly.

'Oh, Mr. Blake!'

'You are right--quite right,' he went on, in a tone that pierced
Audrey's heart, it was so hopeless, so full of pain; and now he did
place himself at her side. 'I do not blame you in the least; it was the
truest kindness. I can see that now. It is not your fault that I have
been a fool. Miss Ross, I wished you to pass; I never meant to speak or
to obtrude myself on you, but you stopped of your own accord.'

'I wished to apologise to you for my abruptness. I did not like you to
think me unkind.'

'You are never unkind, you could not be if you tried,' he returned in
the same passionate tone; 'you are only so absolutely true. You saw what
I ought never to have shown you, and you thought it only right to check
me. Yes, I was hurt for a moment, I will allow it. Perhaps in some sort
of sense I am hurt now. I suppose a man may own to being hurt when his
heart is half broken.'

'Please, please do not talk so.'

'I will promise never to talk so again,' he returned with sad humility;
'but I have gone too far to stop now.'

'No, oh no!' trying to check him; but she might as well have tried to
check a river that had broken bonds. For once Cyril determined that he
would be heard.

'It is your own fault,' he returned, looking at her; 'you should have
passed on and left me to my misery. Yes, I am miserable; and you have
made me so: and yet for all that you are not to be blamed. How could I
see you, how could I be with you, and not love you? I have loved you
from the very first hour I saw you.'

'Oh, hush, hush!' Audrey was half sobbing. There were great tears
rolling down her face; she could hardly bear to hear him or to look at
him, his face was so white and strained.

'I must always love you,' he went on in the same low concentrated voice.
'I have never seen anyone like you; there is not another girl in the
world who would do as you are doing. How can I help losing my heart to
you? No man could, in my position.'

'I am very sorry,' she murmured.

'Do not be sorry'--and then he saw her tears, and his voice softened
from its vehemence and became very gentle. 'You are so kind that I know
you would spare me this pain if you could--but it is not in your power;
neither is it in mine. Do not be afraid of me,' he went on quickly, as
she would have spoken. 'Remember I am asking you for nothing. I expect
nothing. What right have I to aspire to such as you? Even if I have
d