to trample on me!"

"No;--not that."

"Nor to disgrace me; nor to make me feel myself disgraced in my own
judgment?" Then there was a pause for some moments as though he had
left her without another word to say. "Shall I go now?" he asked.

"Oh Frank!"

"I fear that my presence only makes you unhappy."

"Then what will your absence do? When shall I see you again? But,
no; I will not see you again. Not for many days,--not for years. Why
should I? Frank, is it wicked that I should love you?" He could only
shake his head in answer to this. "If it be so wicked that I must
be punished for it eternally, still I love you. I can never, never,
never love another. You cannot understand it. Oh God,--that I had
never understood it myself! I think, I think, that I would go with
you now anywhere, facing all misery, all judgments, all disgrace. You
know, do you not, that if it were possible, I should not say so. But
as I know that you would not stir a step with me, I do say so."

"I know it is not meant."

"It is meant, though it could not be done. Frank, I must not see her,
not for awhile; not for years. I do not wish to hate her, but how
can I help it? Do you remember when she flew into your arms in this
room?"

"I remember it."

"Of course you do. It is your great joy now to remember that, and
such like. She must be very good! Though I hate her!"

"Do not say that you hate her, Mabel."

"Though I hate her she must be good. It was a fine and a brave thing
to do. I have done it; but never before the world like that; have I,
Frank? Oh, Frank, I shall never do it again. Go now, and do not touch
me. Let us both pray that in ten years we may meet as passionless
friends." He came to her hardly knowing what he meant, but purposing,
as though by instinct, to take her hand as he parted from her. But
she, putting both her hands before her face, and throwing herself on
to the sofa, buried her head among the cushions.

"Is there not to be another word?" he said. Lying as she did, she
still was able to make a movement of dissent, and he left her,
muttering just one word between his teeth, "Mabel, good-bye."

CHAPTER LXXVIII

The Duke Returns to Office

That farewell took place on the Friday morning. Tregear as he walked
out of the Square knew now that he had been the cause of a great
shipwreck. At first when that passionate love had been declared,--he
could hardly remember whether with the fullest passion by him or by