u here."

"Nonsense."

"But I have. I have cared about it just because it would enable me to
say one word to you;--and now I'm afraid to say it."

She was sitting there close to him, and she couldn't go away. She
couldn't run as she had done from the stile. She couldn't show
any feeling of offence before all those who were around her; and
yet,--was it not her duty to do something to stop him? "Pray don't
say such things," she whispered.

"I tell you that I'm afraid to say it. Here; give me some wine.
You'll take some more. No? Well; shall we go? I am afraid to say it."
They were now out in the hall, standing idly there, with their backs
to another door. "I wonder what answer you would make me!"

"We had better go up-stairs. Indeed we had."

"Stop a moment, Miss Ray. Why is it that you are so unwilling even to
stay a moment with me?"

"I'm not unwilling. Only we had better go now."

"Do you remember when I held your arm at the stile?"

"No; I don't remember anything about it. You ought not to have
done it. Do you know, I think you are very cruel." As she made the
accusation, she looked down upon the floor, and spoke in a low,
trembling voice that almost convinced him that she was in earnest.

"Cruel!" said he. "That's hard too."

"Or you wouldn't prevent me enjoying myself while I am here, by
saying things which you ought to know I don't like."

"I have hardly thought whether you would like what I say or not; but
I know this; I would give anything in the world to make myself sure
that you would ever look back upon this evening as a happy one."

"I will if you'll come up-stairs, and--"

"And what?"

"And go on without,--without seeming to mind me so much."

"Ah, but I do mind you. Rachel--no; you shall not go for a minute.
Listen to me for one moment." Then he tried to stand before her, but
she was off from him, and ran up-stairs by herself. What was it that
he wished to say to her? She knew that she would have liked to have
heard it;--nay, that she was longing to hear it. But she was startled
and afraid of him, and as she gently crept in at the door of the
dancing-room, she determined that she would tell Mrs. Cornbury that
she was quite ready for the carriage. It was impossible that she
should go through those other two dances with Luke Rowan; and as for
her other engagements, they must be allowed to shift for themselves.
One had been made early in the evening with Mr. Griggs. It would be a
great thi