and it would
be only the greatest grief to her to part with you. This is your sure
and safe and certain home as long as she lives, unless, of your own
choice, you should choose to change it."

Christine shook her head with a denial of the thought that was almost
indignant.

"Never," she said, "oh, never, never! I only ask to stay here, as I am,
until I die."

"Christine," he said, and she could feel his strong gaze on her, through
her lowered lids, "try to be honest with your own heart. Listen to its
voice and you will have to own you are not happy."

"Happy! How could I ever expect to be? It would be a shame to me even to
think of it. Oh, you do not know a woman's nature, or you could not talk
to me of happiness."

"I know your woman's nature, Christine--well enough to reverence it and
kneel to it, and I am not afraid to tell you you are outraging and
wronging it, by shutting out happiness from your heart. What is there to
hinder you from being happy? And oh, Christine, I know at least, there
is no happiness but love."

A silence, solemn and still as death, followed these fervent, low-toned
words. He could see the fluttering of her breath, and the look of deep,
affrighted pain upon her face made his heart quiver.

"Christine," he murmured in a voice grown softer and lower still, "try
not to be frightened or distressed. I cannot hold back my heart any
longer. I love you--dear and good and noble one. If you could only love
me a little, in return, I could make you so happy. I know I could,
Christine, and as for me--why my life, if you refuse me your love, is
worthless and wasted and dead. Oh, Christine, you are the very treasure
of my heart, whether you will or no. Be my wife. You can make my
happiness, as surely as I, if you will let me, can make yours."

He would not venture to take her hand, but he held out his to her,
saying in a voice that had sunk to a whisper:

"Only put your hand in mine, Christine, in token that you will try to
love me a little, and I will wait for all the rest."

He had bent very close to her, and she felt his breath against her hair
as his passionate whisper fell upon her ear. Her heart thrilled to it,
but she got up stiffly to her feet, bending her body away from him and
covering her eyes, for a moment, with her hand.

Noel, who had risen too, stepped backward instantly. He saw her lips
compressed convulsively as if in pain, and, for her sake, he thrust down
into his heart its gr