continued, with an air of
deep sadness, 'I suppose you will keep your word; perhaps you are right
in saying so. I would not marry you without my father's consent, and he
tells me he will never give it; but, Cyril, you may rest assured of
this, that in your lifetime I will never marry another man.'

Then he threw himself at her feet, and, taking her hands in his, begged
her for very pity's sake to stop.

'I love you, Audrey! I think I never loved you before as I do now! but
do you think I would permit such a sacrifice?'

'How are you to help it?' she returned, with a faint smile that was very
near tears; 'and it would be no sacrifice, as far as I know my own
heart. I think my one wish is to comfort you, and to make your life a
little less dreary, Cyril,' looking at him earnestly; and it seemed to
him as though her face were like an angel's. 'You will be brave and bear
this for my sake. When you are tempted to lose faith, and hope seems
farthest from you, you must say to yourself: "Audrey has not deserted
me; she is mine still--mine always and for ever!"'

Then he bowed his head on her hands and wept like a child. She passed
her hand over his hair caressingly, and her own tears flowed; but after
a little while she spoke again:

'I have told father so, and I have told mother; I said to both of them
that I would never give you up. We may live apart. Oh yes, I know that
it is all very sad and miserable; but you will let me keep your ring,
Cyril, because I still belong to you.'

He tried to steady his voice, and failed; all his manhood could not give
him fortitude at such a moment. He could only clasp her in his arms, and
beg her for her own sweet sake to listen to him.

And presently, when he was a little stronger, he put it all before her.
He explained to her as well as he could the future that lay before him;
the yoke of his father's sin was on his neck, and it was useless to try
and break it off. He might call himself Blake, and look for new work in
a new place, and the miserable fact would leak out.

There is a fatality in such cases, he went on. 'One may try to hush it
up, to live quietly, to attract no notice; but sooner or later the
secret will ooze out. I think I am prouder than most men--perhaps I am
morbid; but I feel I shall never live down this shame.'

'You will live it down one day.'

'Yes, the day they put me in my coffin; but not before, Audrey.' Then,
as she turned pale at the thought, he accused