e in case of
visitors.

Cynthia went in very quietly. Hubert was lying on a sofa in the darkest
corner of the room. The blinds were partially closed; but she could see
his face, and she thought at first that he was asleep. His eyes were
closed, his hands were stretched at his sides; his attitude was
expressive of the utmost langour and weariness. She came a little nearer
and looked at him closely. His frame was sadly wasted, and there was an
expression of suffering and melancholy upon his face that touched her
deeply. She drew nearer and nearer to the sofa; but he did not look up
until she was almost close to him. Then he opened his eyes. She cried
"Hubert!" and dropped on her knees beside him, so as to bring her face
upon a level with his own. She put her arms around him and kissed his
cheek.

"Oh, Hubert," she said, "I could not stay away! I love you, my
darling--I love you in spite of all! Will you forgive me for being so
cruel when I saw you last?"

She felt him tremble a little.

"Cynthia!" he said; and then with a sudden gesture he threw his arm
around her, rested his head upon her shoulder, and burst into
tears--tears of weakness in part, but tears also of love, of penitence,
of almost unbearable relief.

She held him close to her, kissing his dark head from time to time, and
calling him by fond, caressing names. But for some minutes he did not
seem to be able or to care to speak. She caught the word "Forgive!" once
or twice between his gasps for breath; but she could distinguish nothing
more.

"Darling," she said at last, "you will do yourself harm if this goes on.
Be calm, and let us talk together a little time. Yes, I forgive you, if
I must say so before anything else. There, there! Ah, my own love, how
could I have left you so long? I was cruel and unkind!"

"No, Cynthia--no! I never thought that I should see you again," he said
brokenly. "Don't leave me again--just yet."

"I will never leave you, if you like," she murmured softly.

"Never, Cynthia?"

"So long as we both do live. You know what I mean?"

"I daren't think. You don't mean that you will now--now become----"

"Your wife? Yes, if you will have me, Hubert. There is no barrier
between us now."

"Your father?" he murmured, looking at her with weary wistful eyes.

"My father sent me to you to-day. No, darling, I have not told him."

"I wish to Heaven you had, Cynthia!"

"What! I betray your confidence? No, I could not do that. But