"

"I trust, nothing disparaging or ignoble."

"I know nothing for which any one could desire oblivion."

"Thanks. Let me speak to you, then, of a matter which should have been
long since proposed to you had I been permitted the opportunity. I love
your daughter. I cannot speak about that, but you will understand all
that I wish to say. I have twice--once by letter, once by speech--let
her know this and my desire to call her wife. She has twice
refused,--absolutely. You think this should cut off all hope?"

Ercildoune had been watching him closely. "If she does not love you," he
answered, at the pause.

"I do not know. I went away from here a little while ago with her
peremptory command not to return. I should not have dared disobey it had
I not learned--thought--in fact, but for some circumstances--I beg your
pardon--I do not know what I am saying. I believed if I saw her once
more I could change her determination,--could induce her to give me
another response,--and came with that hope."

"Which has failed?"

"Which has thus far failed that she will not at all see me; will hold no
communication with me. I should be a ruffian did I force myself on her
thus without excuse or reason. My own love would be no apology did I not
think, did I not dare to hope, that it is not aversion to me that
induces her to act as she has done. Believing so, may I beg a favor of
you? may I entreat that you will induce her to see me, if only for a
little while?"

Ercildoune smiled a sad, bitter smile, as he answered, "Mr. Surrey, if
my daughter does not love you, it would be hopeless for you or for me to
assail her refusal. If she does, she has doubtless rejected you for a
reason which you can read by simply looking into my face. No words of
mine can destroy or do that away."

"There is nothing to destroy; there is nothing to do away. Thank you for
speaking of it, and making the way easy. There is nothing in all the
wide world between us,--there can be nothing between us,--if she loves
me; nothing to keep us apart save her indifference or lack of regard for
me. I want to say so to her if she will give me the chance. Will you not
help me to it?"

"You comprehend all that I mean?"

"I do. It is, as I have said, nothing. That love would not be worth the
telling that considered extraneous circumstances, and not the object
itself."

"You have counted all the consequences? I think not. How, indeed, should
you be able? Come with me a