of your eyes; the sight of that thin hand breaks my
heart. Won't you live for me to love,--live, and let me love you?
Your father goes to-morrow, so he says, and you will be left alone
here; why should it be? Go with me. Give me a right to do what my
heart aches to do for you,--to coax the roses back into your cheek, to
woo the laugh to your lips, to win happiness back to your heart; to
devote my life to you, darling. Have pity on me, have pity on my
love,--have pity!"

His voice dropped into a passionate whisper; as he pleaded with her, he
sank down upon one knee by her side, beseeching by word and gesture and
look that she should show him that pity he could see in her eyes, that
he knew was in her heart, and to which he made his last appeal; and
then, lifting the hem of her dress to his lips with an unconscious
movement of passionate reverence, he waited.

She looked at him in silence a moment. So young, so handsome, so
appealing, her heart filled with sorrow and sympathy for him. There
was hope in his eyes which she had not seen for many days; how could
she drive it away and crush his heart! It might be cruel, but she had
no answer, no other answer, no new word, to tell him. Her eyes filled
with tears; she could not trust herself to speak, she only shook her
head.

"Ah," he said, rising to his feet and throwing up his hands with a
gesture of despair, "I knew it. Well, the dream is over at last. This
is the end. I sought life, and found death; that, at least, if it
shall come I shall welcome. Would God I had gone down with the ship!
You have no pity; you let a dead image--an idea--stand between you and
a living love. Will you never forget?"

"Never," she said softly. "Love knows no death. He is alive--here.
But do not grieve so for me; I am not worth it. You will go away and
forget, and--"

"No; you have said it, 'Love knows no death.' I, too, cannot forget.
As long as I live I shall love--and remember. How if I waited and
waited? Katharine, I would wait forever for you," he said, suddenly
catching at the trifle.

"No, it would be no use. My friend, we both must suffer; it cannot be
otherwise. I esteem you, respect you, admire you. You have protected
me, honored me; my gratitude--" She went on brokenly, "You might ask
anything of me but my heart, and that is given away."

"Let me take you without it, then. I want but you."

"No, Lord Desborough, it cannot be. Do not ask me again. N