nt, or doing anything, or
saying anything, or writing anything that shall compromise her in the very
slightest degree. I am very sure that you would not, Le."

"I would die first," earnestly answered the youth.

"You can write to her as often as you please as a brother might write to a
sister, and through me, always. Remember that, and wait for events, Le. Be
sure of one thing--under no circumstances will Abel Force ever give his
daughter to Angus Anglesea. If he--Anglesea--should ever be able to prove
that the ceremony performed in All Faith Church last Tuesday was a lawful
one, Odalite's father would at once institute legal proceedings to
liberate his daughter from that merely nominal and most disreputable
marriage. Be sure of that, Le, and be patient. You cannot return before
three years, and in three years much may happen--indeed, much must
happen!"

"I will try to be patient, Aunt Elfrida. But, oh, what a fate is mine!"

"It is a hard fate, Le; but Odalite shares it. If you must live in
suspense, why, so must she. Bear your fate for her sake, Le."

"I will! I will, Aunt Elfrida!" earnestly answered the youth.

"And remember, Le, you are not to breathe to Odalite my doubts as to her
freedom from Anglesea's yoke."

"I will not, Aunt Elfrida. I would not make her so unhappy," replied the
lover. "I will only tell her," he added, "that you think we had better
correspond in the way you suggested, and wait for my return from sea to
settle matters; or shall I refer her to you?"

"Do both, Le. Tell her what you propose to tell, and send her to me."

"I will not keep you any longer from your guests, Aunt Elfrida. I thank
you very much for your kindness to me, and I shall be guided by your
words," said the young man, as he raised the hand of the lady to his lips,
and then dropped it with a bow and left the room.

CHAPTER XLII

OTHER INTERVIEWS

He found Odalite waiting for him in the hall. She was dressed for a walk.

"Let us go over to Greenbushes this morning, Le. It is such a fine
morning. We can walk through the woods, and rest on the bridge at
Chincapin Creek, and then we shall not be too tired when we get to the
house," she said in so many words, but all the while she spoke her eyes
asked, without words:

"What did mamma say?"

"Happy thought! We will go, dearest. I will be ready in a trice! And we
can talk as we go along!" replied Le, with assumed gayety, as he pulled
down his overcoat from it