hat she had given up all thoughts of love. Mr. Bereton would not
hear of it, and Pauline added her entreaties to his.

"But I cannot leave you, my dear," said Miss Hastings. "You cannot live
all by yourself."

"I shall most probably have to spend my life alone," she replied, "and I
will not have your happiness sacrificed to mine."

Between her lover and her pupil Miss Hastings found all resistance
hopeless. Pauline took a positive delight and pleasure in the
preparations for the marriage, and, in spite of all that Miss Hastings
could say to the contrary, she insisted upon settling a very handsome
income upon her.

There was a tone of sadness in all that Pauline said with reference to
her future which struck Miss Hastings with wonder.

"You never speak of your own marriage," she said, "or your own
future--why is it, Pauline?"

The beautiful face was overshadowed for a moment, and then she replied:

"It is because I have no hope. I had a presentiment when Vane went away,
that I should not see him again. There are some strange thoughts always
haunting me. If I reap as I have sowed, what then?"

"My dear child, no one could do more than you have done. You repented of
your fault, and atoned for it in the best way you were able."

But the lovely face only grew more sad.

"I was so willful, so proud, so scornful. I did not deserve a happy
life. I am trying to forget all the romance and the love, all the poetry
of my youth, and to live only for my duty."

"But Sir Vane will come back," said Miss Hastings.

"I do not know--all hope seemed to die in my heart when he went away.
But let us talk of you and your future without reference to mine."

* * * * *

Miss Hastings was married, and after she had gone away Pauline Darrell
was left alone with her inheritance at last.

CHAPTER XLIV.

SHADOW OF ABSENT LOVE.

Six years had passed since the marriage of the governess left Miss
Darrell alone. She heard as constantly as ever from Sir Vane; he had
made money rapidly. It was no longer the desire to make a fortune which
kept him away, but the fact that in the part of the country where he was
great danger existed, and that, having been placed there in a situation
of trust, he could not well leave it; so of late a hopeless tone had
crept into his letters. He made no reference to coming home; and
Pauline, so quick, so sensitive, saw in this reticence the shadow of her
own presentime