the compact between us will never be divulged to any, even your dearest
friend. When Clara leaves me, you will bind yourself that she is never
to be traced to me; that no clew shall ever be found to connect us one
with the other. With another name who is to know her?"

Stocmar gazed steadfastly at her. Was it that in a moment of
forgetfulness she had suffered herself to speak too frankly, for her
features had now assumed a look of almost sternness, the very opposite
to their expression hitherto.

"And can you part with your niece so easily as this, madam?" asked he.

"She is not my niece, sir," broke she in, with impetuosity; "we are on
honor here, and so I tell you she is nothing--less than nothing--to
me. An unhappy event--a terrible calamity--bound up our lot for years
together. It is a compact we are each weary of, and I have long told
her that I only await the arrival of her guardian to relieve myself of a
charge which brings no pleasure to either of us."

"You have given me a right to be very candid with you, madam," said
Stocmar. "May I adventure so far as to ask what necessity there can
possibly exist for such a separation as this you now contemplate?"

"You are evidently resolved, sir, to avail yourself of your privilege,"
said she, with a slight irritation of manner; "but when people incur a
debt, they must compound for being dunned. You desire to know why I wish
to part with this girl? I will tell you. I mean to cutoff all connection
with the past; and she belongs to it. I mean to carry with me no
memories of _that_ time; and she is one of them. I mean to disassociate
myself from whatever might suggest a gloomy retrospect; and this her
presence does continually. Perhaps, too, I have other plans,--plans so
personal that your good breeding and good taste would not permit you to
penetrate."

Though the sarcasm in which these last words were uttered was of the
faintest, Stocmar felt it, and blushed slightly as he said: "You do me
but justice, madam. I would not presume so far! Now, as to the question
itself," said he, after a pause, "it is one requiring some time for
thought and reflection."

"Which is what it does not admit of, sir," broke she in. "It was on
Mr. Trover's assurance that you were one of those who at once can trust
themselves to say 'I will,' or 'I will not,' that I determined to see
you. If the suddenness of the demand be the occasion of any momentary
inconvenience as to the expense, I ough