lf staggered. "Why in God's name did He make you and me
after such a fashion, that you are the one person in the world able to
save me, and you cannot! Why did He do this! Why did He put me where I
saw you every day and torment me with the hope of you, knowing that you
would have nothing to do with me! He maimed my father and made him a
beggar: He prevented me from learning what would have made me fit for
you, and then He drove me to worship you. Do not say 'never'!"

They were close to her father's door at the Terrace. She stopped, looked
at him sadly, but decisively, straight in the face, and said--

"Never! never! Never your lover, but your best friend for ever," and she
opened the gate and disappeared.

CHAPTER XIII

Mr. and Mrs. Furze were not disturbed because their daughter was late. A
neighbour told them that she had gone to the Rectory with Mr. and Mrs.
Cardew, and Mrs. Furze was pleased that Eastthorpe should behold her
daughter apparently on intimate terms with a clergyman so well known and
so respectable. But it was ten o'clock, and they wished to be in bed.
Mrs. Furze had gone to the window, and had partly pushed aside the blind,
watching till Catharine should appear. Just as the clock struck she saw
Catharine approaching with somebody whom she of course took for Mr.
Cardew. The pair came nearer, and, to her astonishment, she recognised
Tom. Nay more, she saw the couple halt near the gate, and that Tom was
speaking very earnestly. Mrs. Furze was so absorbed that she did not
recover herself until the interview was at an end, and before she could
say a word to her husband, who was asleep in the arm-chair, her daughter
was at the door. Mrs. Furze went to open it.

"Why, Catharine, that surely wasn't Tom!"

"Yes, it was, mother. Why not?"

"To-om!" half shrieked Mrs. Furze.

"Yes, Tom: I suppose father has gone to bed? Good-night, mother," and
Catharine kissed her on the forehead and went upstairs.

Mrs. Furze shut the door and rushed into the room.

"My dear! my dear!" shaking him, "Catharine has come, and Tom brought
her, and they stood ever so long talking to one another."

Mr. Furze roused himself and took a little brandy-and-water.

"Rubbish!"

"Rubbish! it's all very well for you to say 'rubbish' when you've been
snoring there!"

"Well, where is she? Make her come in; let us hear what she has to say."

"She's gone to bed. Now take my advice: don't speak to her to