about the neighborhood that the negro hell is under your property.
You know many of the colored people expect to be everlastingly punished
with ice and not with fire--"

"Agnes," I interrupted, "I am punished with ice and fire both. Please
let me tell you--"

"I was going on to say, Mr. Cuthbert," she interrupted, "that when the
Italians heard why the colored men had come out of the hole they would
not go in either, for they are just as afraid of everlasting ice as the
negroes are, and were sure that if the bottom came out of that hole they
would fall into a frozen lower world. So there was nothing to do but to
send for paupers, and they are working now. You know paupers have to do
what they are told without regard to their beliefs. They got a dozen of
them from the poor-house. Somebody said they just threw them into the
hole. Now I must stop talking, for it is time for you to walk around
again. Would you like another sandwich?"

"Agnes," said I, endeavoring to speak calmly, "all I want is to be able
to tell you--"

"And when you walk, Mr. Cuthbert, you had better keep around the edge
of the chamber, for there is no knowing when they may come through. Mr.
Burton and the foreman of the ice-men measured the bluff so that they
say the hole they are making is exactly over the middle of the chamber
you are in, and if you walk around the edge the pieces may not fall on
you."

"If you don't listen to me, Agnes," I said, "I'll go and sit anywhere,
everywhere, where death may come to me quickest. Your coldness is worse
than the coldness of the cave. I can not bear it."

"But, Mr. Cuthbert," said Agnes, speaking, I thought, with some
agitation, "I have been listening to you, and what more can you possibly
have to say? If there is anything you want, let me know. I will run and
get it for you."

"There is no need that you should go away to get what I want," I said.
"It is there with you. It is you."

"Mr. Cuthbert," said Agnes, in a very low voice, but so distinctly that
I could hear every word, "don't you think it would be better for you to
give your whole mind to keeping yourself warm and strong? For if you let
yourself get benumbed you may sink down and freeze."

"Agnes," I said, "I will not move from this little hole until I have
told you that I love you, that I have no reason to care for life or
rescue unless you return my love, unless you are willing to be mine.
Speak quickly to me, Agnes, because I may not be resc