to me the gateway to
hell, carry there, even in secrecy, the effects of that atmosphere? I
will cherish your goodness in my heart but do not ask me to bury that
heart in any more exalted spot, than some humble country home, where
my life may be spent in good deeds and my love in prayers for the man I
hold dear, and because I hold dear, leave to his own high path among the
straight and unshadowed courses of the world."

And with a gesture that inexorably shut him off while it expressed the
most touching appeal, she glided by him and took her way to the room
where her father and brother awaited her presence.

CHAPTER XIX. EXPLANATIONS

"I cannot endure this," came in one burst of feeling from the lips of
Mr. Blake. "She don't know, she don't realize--Sir," cried he, suddenly
becoming conscious of my presence in the room, "will you be good enough
to see that this note," he hastily scribbled one, "is carried across the
way to my house and given to Mrs. Daniels."

I bowed assent, routed up one of the men in the next room and despatched
it at once.

"Perhaps she will listen to the voice of one of her own sex if not to
me," said he; and began pacing the floor of the narrow room in which we
were, with a wildness of impatience that showed to what depths had sunk
the hope of gaining this lovely woman for his own.

Feeling myself no longer necessary in that spot, I followed where my
wishes led and entered the room where Luttra was bidding good-bye to her
father.

"I shall never forget," I heard her say as I crossed the floor to where
Mr. Gryce stood looking out of the window, "that your blood runs in my
veins together with that of my gentle-hearted, never-to-be-forgotten
mother. Whatever my fate may be or wherever I may hide the head you have
bowed to the dust, be sure I shall always lift up my hands in prayer for
your repentance and return to an honest life. God grant that my prayers
may be heard and that I may yet receive at your hands, a father's kindly
blessing."

The only answer to this was a heavily muttered growl that gave but
little promise of any such peaceful termination to a deeply vicious
life. Hearing it, Mr. Gryce hastened to procure his men and remove the
hardened wretches from the spot. All through the preparations for their
departure, she stood and watched their sullen faces with a wild yearning
in her eye that could scarcely be denied, but when the door finally
closed upon them, and she was left s