on the balcony, looking for a few minutes upon the sight,
and then came into the shadowy room, where De Stancy had remained. While
the rest were still outside she resumed: 'You must not suppose that I
shrink from the subject you so persistently bring before me. I respect
deep affection--you know I do; but for me to say that I have any such
for you, of the particular sort you only will be satisfied with, would
be absurd. I don't feel it, and therefore there can be nothing between
us. One would think it would be better to feel kindly towards you than
to feel nothing at all. But if you object to that I'll try to feel
nothing.'

'I don't really object to your sympathy,' said De Stancy, rather struck
by her seriousness. 'But it is very saddening to think you can feel
nothing more.'

'It must be so, since I CAN feel no more,' she decisively replied,
adding, as she stopped her seriousness: 'You must pray for strength to
get over it.'

'One thing I shall never pray for; to see you give yourself to another
man. But I suppose I shall witness that some day.'

'You may,' she gravely returned.

'You have no doubt chosen him already,' cried the captain bitterly.

'No, Captain De Stancy,' she said shortly, a faint involuntary blush
coming into her face as she guessed his allusion.

This, and a few glances round at the pictures and curiosities, completed
their survey of the castle. De Stancy knew better than to trouble her
further that day with special remarks. During the return journey he rode
ahead with Mr. Power and she saw no more of him.

She would have been astonished had she heard the conversation of the two
gentlemen as they wound gently downwards through the trees.

'As far as I am concerned,' Captain De Stancy's companion was saying,
'nothing would give me more unfeigned delight than that you should
persevere and win her. But you must understand that I have no authority
over her--nothing more than the natural influence that arises from my
being her father's brother.'

'And for exercising that much, whatever it may be, in my favour I thank
you heartily,' said De Stancy. 'But I am coming to the conclusion that
it is useless to press her further. She is right! I am not the man for
her. I am too old, and too poor; and I must put up as well as I can with
her loss--drown her image in old Falernian till I embark in Charon's
boat for good!--Really, if I had the industry I could write some good
Horatian verses on my inaus