pted my letters, and you have tried to ruin my life, and
I do not want your kisses. I hope I shall not always feel thus," she
added, regretfully, as she saw the guilty flush which mounted to the
woman's forehead, "but, just now, I am afraid I do not love you very
much, and I will not be hypocritical enough to pretend that I do."

Mrs. Mencke had nothing to say to this, for she well knew that she
richly deserved it; but she passed quickly from the room, and at once
sought an interview with Lord Cameron.

An hour later he was sitting beside Violet, with a grave and pitiful
face, but with a look of eager hope in his fine eyes, which told that he
had no thought of leaving her presence a rejected lover.

"Your illness has changed you greatly, Miss Huntington," he remarked,
regarding her thin, white face sorrowfully, "but I hope that you will
soon be yourself again, and--and now may I at once speak of what is
nearest my heart? I believe in a frank course at all times, and of
course you cannot be ignorant of my object in coming to you. I am sure
you must realize, by this time, something of the depth of my love for
you. Indeed my one hope, ever since our pleasant voyage across the
water, has been to win you. Darling, words cannot express one-half that
I feel; I have lived almost thirty years without ever meeting any one
with whom I could be willing to spend my life until now, and all the
long-pent-up passion of my nature goes forth to you. Violet, will you be
my wife? will you come to me and let me shelter you in the arms of my
love--let me try to make your future the brightest one that woman has
ever known? My love! my love! put your little hands in mine and say that
you will give yourself to me."

Violet made such a gesture of pain at these words, while her face was
convulsed with such anguish, that Vane Cameron caught his breath and
regarded her with astonishment.

When Mrs. Mencke had told him that Violet had consented to see him, she
hinted at some childish attachment, but encouraged him to hope for a
favorable issue of the interview.

He realized now, however, that this "childish attachment" had left a far
deeper wound in Violet's heart than he had been allowed to suspect.

"Is my confession distasteful to you, Violet?" he gravely asked, when he
could command himself to speak. "I was led to believe--I hoped that it
would meet with a ready response from you."

"Oh, Lord Cameron! I do not know what to say to you," V