policy to seek to shield her by any earthly scheming from the approach
of evil; let her go, powerful in her own innocence and purity of heart;
what better safeguard can she have than that deep guilelessness?" He saw
that she gazed at him in astonishment as he spoke--"You will scarce
regret," he continued, smiling, "that our acquaintance is drawing to a
close; I must seem to have dealt very strangely by you; and I have yet a
request to make before we part, which will, I fear, yet astonish you
still more. Will you promise me not to mention to any individual
whatever at Randolph Abbey that you have met me? you do not know my
name, but they would recognize me by your description, and I earnestly
desire I should not be spoken of amongst them." The fair, candid eyes
assumed an expression of gravity.

"Pray do not ask me this, for I cannot endure concealments."

"That I can well believe," he answered. "I would fancy your young mind
clear and limpid as the purest waters; but trust me, that I do not make
the request without a reason you would yourself approve of; you would
not wish to give pain to any one I know."

"Indeed I would not."

"Then you will not speak of me at Randolph Abbey, for by so doing you
would cause acute suffering--not to me, but to another."

"That is quite enough; I will promise you to be silent, unless some
unforeseen circumstance should compel me to speak of what has passed
between us."

"I thank you much," he said; "and now here we part. You will excuse my
not accompanying you to the carriage, as you have your servants, and I
do not wish to be seen by Sir Michael's people." The boat had reached
the shore; he leaped out and assisted her to disembark; then, still
holding her hand for a moment, he looked at her with the strange, sweet
smile which so beautified his face, and said--"I need scarcely say, all
good be with you, for I feel it must be so. There are many stern natures
in this world, but none cruel enough, I am sure, to betray so trusting a
heart, or cause such cloudless eyes to grow dim in tears; you never will
deceive or injure any, and, therefore, will deceits and wrong fall
harmless round you. Your own frank and unsuspecting goodness will be as
invincible armor upon you, and fear not, therefore, when you find
yourself in the midst of the toils which crafty human nature spreads
over life; walk on in truth and guilelessness, according as your own
generous impulse dictates, and I do not dou