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〃You must not ask me；〃 was her reply； 〃for I am not free to tell
you。 Only believe me； and go hencebelieve me； and go away
quickly； quickly； for your life！〃
An appeal to his alarm is never a good plan to rid oneself of a
spirited young man。 My obstinacy was but increased by what she
said； and I made it a point of honor to remain。 And her solicitude
for my safety still more confirmed me in the resolve。
〃You must not think me inquisitive； madame；〃 I replied； 〃but； if
Graden is so dangerous a place； you yourself perhaps remain here at
some risk。〃
She only looked at me reproachfully。
〃You and your father〃 I resumed； but she interrupted me almost
with a gasp。
〃My father！ How do you know that？〃 she cried。
〃I saw you together when you landed；〃 was my answer； and I do not
know why； but it seemed satisfactory to both of us； as indeed it
was truth。 〃But；〃 I continued； 〃you need have no fear from me。 I
see you have some reason to be secret； and； you may believe me；
your secret is as safe with me as if I were in Graden Floe。 I have
scarce spoken to anyone for years； my horse is my only companion；
and even he； poor beast； is not beside me。 You see； then； you may
count on me for silence。 So tell me the truth； my dear young lady；
are you not in danger？〃
〃Mr。 Northmour says you are an honorable man；〃 she returned； 〃and I
believe it when I see you。 I will tell you so much； you are right；
we are in dreadful； dreadful danger； and you share it by remaining
where you are。〃
〃Ah！〃 said I； 〃you have heard of me from Northmour？ And he gives
me a good character？〃
〃I asked him about you last night；〃 was her reply。 〃I pretended；〃
she hesitated； 〃I pretended to have met you long ago； and spoken to
you of him。 It was not true； but I could not help myself without
betraying you； and you had put me in a difficulty。 He praised you
highly。〃
〃Andyou may permit me one questiondoes this danger come from
Northmour？〃 I asked。
〃From Mr。 Northmour？〃 she cried。 〃Oh； no； he stays with us to
share it。〃
〃While you propose that I should run away？〃 I said。 〃You do not
rate me very high。〃
〃Why should you stay？〃 she asked。 〃You are no friend of ours。〃
I know not what came over me； for I had not been conscious of a
similar weakness since I was a child； but I was so mortified by
this retort that my eyes pricked and filled with tears； as I
continued to gaze upon her face。
〃No； no；〃 she said； in a changed voice； 〃I did not mean the words
unkindly。〃
〃It was I who offended；〃 I said； and I held out my hand with a look
of appeal that somehow touched her； for she gave me hers at once；
and even eagerly。 I held it for awhile in mine； and gazed into her
eyes。 It was she who first tore her hand away； and； forgetting all
about her request and the promise she had sought to extort； ran at
the top of her speed； and without turning； till she was out of
sight。 And then I knew that I loved her； and thought in my glad
heart that sheshe herselfwas not indifferent to my suit。 Many
a time she has denied it in after days； but it was with a smiling
and not a serious denial。 For my part； I am sure our hands would
not have lain so closely in each other if she had not begun to melt
to me already。 And； when all is said； it is no great contention；
since； by her own avowal； she began to love me on the morrow。
And yet on the morrow very little took place。 She came and called
me down as on the day before； upbraided me for lingering at Graden；
and； when she found I was still obdurate； began to ask me more
particularly as to my arrival。 I told her by what series of
accidents I had come to witness their disembarkation； and how I had
determined to remain； partly from the interest which had been
awakened in me by Northmour's guests； and partly because of his own
murderous attack。 As to the former； I fear I was disingenuous； and
led her to regard herself as having been an attraction to me from
the first moment that I saw her on the links。 It relieves my heart
to make this confession even now； when my wife is with God； and
already knows all things； and the honesty of my purpose even in
this； for while she lived； although it often pricked my conscience；
I had never the hardihood to undeceive her。 Even a little secret；
in such a married life as ours； is like the rose leaf which kept
the princess from her sleep。
From this the talk branched into other subjects； and I told her
much about my lonely and wandering existence； she； for her part；
giving ear； and saying little。 Although we spoke very naturally；
and latterly on topics that might seem indifferent； we were both
sweetly agitated。 Too soon it was time for her to go； and we
separated； as if by mutual consent； without shaking hands； for both
knew that； between us； it was no idle ceremony。
The next； and that was the fourth day of our acquaintance； we met
in the same spot； but early in the morning； with much familiarity
and yet much timidity on either side。 While she had once more
spoken about my dangerand that； I understood； was her excuse for
comingI； who had prepared a great deal of talk during the night；
began to tell her how highly I valued her kind interest； and how no
one had ever cared to hear about my life； nor had I ever cared to
relate it； before yesterday。 Suddenly she interrupted me； saying
with vehemence
〃And yet； if you knew who I was； you would not so much as speak to
me！〃
I told her such a thought was madness； and； little as we had met； I
counted her already a dear friend； but my protestations seemed only
to make her more desperate。
〃My father is in hiding！〃 she cried。
〃My dear；〃 I said； forgetting for the first time to add 〃young
lady；〃 〃what do I care？ If I were in hiding twenty times over；
would it make one thought of change in you？〃
〃Ah； but the cause！〃 she cried； 〃the cause！ It is〃she faltered
for a second〃it is disgraceful to us！〃
IV
This was my wife's story； as I drew it from her among tears and
sobs。 Her name was Clara Huddlestone： it sounded very beautiful in
my ears； but not so beautiful as that other name of Clara Cassilis；
which she wore during the longer and； I thank God； the happier
portion of her life。 Her father； Bernard Huddlestone； had been a
private banker in a very large way of business。 Many years before；
his affairs becoming disordered； he had been led to try dangerous；
and at last criminal； expedients to retrieve himself from ruin。
All was in vain； he became more and more cruelly involved； and
found his honor lost at the same moment with his fortune。 About
this period； Northmour had been courting his daughter with great
assiduity； though with small encouragement； and to him； knowing him
thus disposed in his favor； Bernard Huddlestone turned for help in
his extremity。 It was not merely ruin and dishonor； nor merely a
legal condemnatio