that he wants you to marry?"

"Yes, the same, or rather her enormous wealth; but may my hand wither
before it clasps hers. Do you hear me, Diana?"

She gave a sad smile and murmured, "Poor Norbert!"

The heart of the young man sank; so melancholy was the tone of her
voice.

"You are very cruel," said he. "What have I done to deserve this want of
confidence?"

Diana made no reply, and Norbert, believing that he understood the
reason why she refused to fly with him, said, "Is it because you have no
faith in me, that you will not accompany me in my flight?"

"No; I have perfect faith in you."

"What is it, then? Do I not offer you fortune and happiness? Tell me
what it is then."

She drew herself up, and said proudly, "Up to this time, my conscience
has enabled me to hold my own against all the scandalous gossip that has
been flying about, but now it says, 'Halt, Diana de Laurebourg! You have
gone far enough.' My burden is heavy, my heart is breaking, but I must
draw back now. No, Norbert; I cannot fly with you."

She paused for a moment, as though unable to proceed, and then went on
with more firmness, "Were I alone and solitary in the world, I might act
differently; but I have a family, whose honor I must guard as I would my
own."

"A family indeed, which sacrifices you to your elder brother."

"It may be so, and therefore my task is all the greater. Who ever head
of virtue as something easy to practise?"

Norbert never remembered what an example of rebellion she had set.

"My heart and my conscience dictate the same course to me. The result
must ever be fatal, when a young girl sets at defiance the rules and
laws of society; and you would never care to look with respect on one
upon whom others gazed with the eye of contempt."

"What sort of an opinion have you of me, then?"

"I believe you to be a man, Norbert. Let us suppose that I fly with you,
and that the next day I should hear that my father has been killed in a
duel fought on my account; what then? Believe me, that when I tell you
to fly by yourself, I give you the best advice in my power. You will
forget me, I know; but what else can I hope for?"

"Forget you!" said Norbert angrily. "Can you forget me?"

His face was so close to hers that she felt the hot breath upon her
cheek.

"Yes," stammered she, with a violent effort, "I can."

Norbert drew a pace back, that he might read her meaning more fully in
her eyes.

"And if I go away," ask