"
That last rash sentence opened a way for him by which to escape me
if he chose, and he instantly took advantage of it.
"Pardon me, Miss Halcombe," he said, still keeping his hand over
his face, "pardon me if I remind you that I have claimed no such
right."
The few plain words which would have brought him back to the point
from which he had wandered were just on my lips, when Laura
checked me by speaking again.
"I hope I have not made my painful acknowledgment in vain," she
continued. "I hope it has secured me your entire confidence in
what I have still to say?"
"Pray be assured of it." He made that brief reply warmly, dropping
his hand on the table while he spoke, and turning towards us
again. Whatever outward change had passed over him was gone now.
His face was eager and expectant--it expressed nothing but the
most intense anxiety to hear her next words.
"I wish you to understand that I have not spoken from any selfish
motive," she said. "If you leave me, Sir Percival, after what you
have just heard, you do not leave me to marry another man, you
only allow me to remain a single woman for the rest of my life.
My fault towards you has begun and ended in my own thoughts.
Pages:
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294