,
as if watching the effect of his words--

"This is the last hour I can give you. In two days I return to New York.
Letters of importance came this morning; I have waited here too long
already."

"Are you in earnest this time?"

"I am; it is absolutely necessary that I should return home."

"Mr. Clifton, what shall I do without you?"

"Suppose you had never seen me?"

"Then I should not have had to lose you. Oh, sir! I need you very much."

"Electra, child, you will conquer your difficulties without assistance from
anyone. You have nothing to fear."

"Yes, I know I shall conquer at last, but the way would be so much easier
if you were only with me. I shall miss you more than I can tell you."

He passed his hand over his short shining hair, and mused for a moment as
if laying conflicting emotions in the balance. She heard his deep, laboured
breathing, and saw the working of the muscles in his pale face; when he
spoke his voice was husky--

"You are right; you need me, and I want you always with me; we must not be
parted. Electra, I say we shall not. Come to me, put your hands in
mine--promise me that you will be my child, my pupil. I will take you to my
mother, and we need never be separated. You require aid, such as cannot be
had here; in New York you shall have all that you want. Will you come with
me?"

He held her hands in a vice-like grasp, and looked pleadingly into her
astonished countenance. A mist gathered before her, and she closed her
eyes.

"Electra, will you come?"

She raised her bloodless face, stamped with stern resolve, and ere the
words were pronounced he read his answer in the defiant gleam of her eyes,
in the hard, curved lines of the mouth.

"Mr. Clifton, I cannot go with you just now, for at present I cannot, ought
not, to leave my aunt. Helpless as she is, it would be cruel, ungrateful to
desert her; but things cannot continue this way much longer, and I promise
you that as soon as I can I will go to you. I want to be with you; I want
somebody to care for me, and I know you will be a kind friend to me always.
Most gratefully will I accept your generous offer as soon as I feel that I
can do so."

He stooped and touched her forehead with his lips.

"My dear Electra, you are right to remain with her, but when she needs you
no more I shall expect you to come to me in New York. Meantime, I shall
write to you frequently, and supply you with such books and materials as
you require. M