r
calm, dignified manner influenced him even more than her words, as she
looked earnestly into Hugh Fernely's face.

It was not a bad face, she thought; there was no cruelty or meanness
there. She read love so fierce and violent in it that it startled her.
He did not look like one who would wantonly and willfully make her
sister wretched for life. Hope grew in her heart as she gazed. She
resolved to plead with him for Beatrice, to ask him to forget a
childish, foolish promise--a childish error.

"My sister is very unhappy," she said, bravely; "so unhappy that I do
not think she can bear much more; it will kill her or drive her mad."

"It is killing me," he interrupted.

"You do not look cruel, Mr. Fernely," continued Lillian. "Your face is
good and true--I would trust you. Release my sister. She was but a
foolish, impetuous child when she made you that promise. If she keeps
it, all her life will be wretched. Be generous and release her."

"Did she bid you ask me?" he interrogated.

"No," she replied; "but do you know what the keeping of the promise
will cost her? Lord Earle will never forgive her. She will have to
leave home, sister, friends--all she loves and values most. Judge
whether she could ever care for you, if you brought this upon her."

"I can not help it," he said gloomily. "She promised to be my wife,
Miss Lillian--Heaven knows I am speaking truthfully--and I have lived
on her words. You do not know what the strong love of a true man is.
I love her so that if she chose to place her little foot upon me, and
trample the life out of me, I would not say her nay. I must see
her--the hungry, yearning love that fills my heart must be satisfied."
Great tears shone in his eyes, and deep sobs shook his strong frame.

"I will not harm her," he said, "but I must see her. Once, and once
only, her beautiful face lay on my breast--that beautiful, proud face!
No mother ever yearned to see her child again more than I long to see
her. Let her come to me, Miss Lillian; let me kneel at her feet as I
did before,--If she sends me from her, there will be pity in death; but
she can not. There is not a woman in the world who could send such
love as mine away! You can not understand," he continued. "It is more
than two years since I left her; night and day her face has been before
me. I have lived upon my love; it is my life--my everything. I could
no more drive it from my breast than I could tear my heart f