irest
descendant, was it the time to falter and fail? She looked up piteously
in her great extremity; there was a prayer for help in her eyes, but
between them and heaven was interposed a stern bronze face, not a line
of it softening.

At length the faint, broken whisper came--"God help me! I _can not_ say
it."

There was a pause, but not a stillness, for the beating of her
companion's heart was distinctly audible. Then Cecil spoke again in her
own natural caressing tones:

"You will be good and generous, I know. See how I trust you!"

The thought of how their continued intimacy might touch her fair fame
never seemed to suggest itself for an instant. Yet, remember, The
Tresilyan was no longer a guileless, romantic girl, believing and hoping
all things; she knew right well what scandals and jealousies lurk under
the smooth surface of the society in which she had borne so prominent a
part; she knew that there were women alive who would have given half
their diamonds to have her at their mercy, and torment her at their
will. Was it likely that such would let even a slander sleep? Let the
_Rosiere_ of last season lay this reflection to her heart to temper the
immoderation of triumph--"For every one of my victories I have made one
mortal enemy." Not only while in supremacy is the potentate obnoxious to
conspiracies; the dagger is most to be dreaded when the dignity is laid
down. All dethroned and abdicating dictators have not the luck of Sylla.

Silently and unreservedly to accept such a sacrifice, while the offerer
was resolved not to count the cost, transcended even the cynicism of
Royston Keene. He grasped her arm as though to arrest her attention, and
almost involuntarily broke from his lips words of solemn warning.

"Let me go on my way alone, while there is time. It is hard to touch
pitch and keep undefiled. Child, you are too pure to estimate your
danger. If you remained as innocent as one of God's angels, the world
would still condemn you."

Her slender fingers twined themselves round his wrist, so tenderly!--and
she bent down her soft cheek till its blush was hidden on his hand. Then
she looked up in his face with a bright, trustful smile.

"Great happiness can not be bought without a price. I fear no reproach
so much as that of my own conscience. Do not think I delude myself as to
the risk I am incurring. But if I am innocent, I shall never hear or
heed what the world may say; if I am guilty, I have no rig