the ostensible motive of their going there being carried out.

"Do you think, Cecil," said he, darting on his opportunity, "I want
anything else when I am alone with you?"

Fane had, as he thought, broken the ice; but the next instant he was
uncertain if she had heard or understood. A moonbeam showed him her
face,--it was very pale with a look of determination on it, and her eyes
were bright and steady.

"Yes," said she, after a pause, "I am glad we are alone. Major Fane, I
have known you such a long time, I want to ask a favour of you, and tell
you a secret."

The most confident lover might have found something ominous in these
words. Fane felt as if he had made a false step; but he answered,
stiffly, perhaps,--"You must have known me to very little purpose, Miss
Rolleston, if you are not assured how gladly I would help or be of use to
you in any way."

"Don't think me mad," cried the girl, impulsively; "but could you stay
away--I mean, not come here quite so often."

Fane was too much astonished to speak, and Cecil plunged desperately
on. "You have been so kind to me," she faltered, "I am afraid of its
misleading papa, and his thinking that you have wishes and intentions--"

"That I might wish to marry you, Cecil? Is that the misconception you are
afraid of?"

"Pray don't imagine _I_ think so, but _he_, might; and, oh! Major Fane,
I care most deeply for some one whom I know would not be acceptable to
papa. You, on the contrary, would be everything he could wish--don't you
see? the disappointment would make the other all the more objectionable
to him."

"I do see my unenviable position," said Fane, shortly, for it was bad
enough to be thrown over himself without being expected to be interested
in a rival. "What do you wish me to do, Miss Rolleston?"

"To forget, if you can, every word I have said," cried Cecil, in an
_acces_ of embarrassment now that she had done it, and the excitement was
over. "What _must_ you think of me!"

Fane was silent for some time, for he was struggling with mortification.
Fortunately for Cecil, he was a gentleman, or he might have revenged
himself by assuring her she had totally mistaken his intentions.

"I can't under-value the sacrifice you ask of me," said he, presently. "I
do not blame you, for you have never pretended to spare me any affection
from the lover you are so true to. I hope he is worthy of it."

A pang seized her, as the doubt whether she was not throwing away