'I must! It is true; and truth must be somewhere!' was whispered in a strange, low, resolute whisper.
'True! true that you can feel one particle of the intensity-Oh! what words can I find to make you understand the glow and tenderness the very thought of you has been!'
'Hush, hush!-pray, Frank. Now, if I do own it-'
'It-what? Let me hear! I'm very stupid, you know!' said Frank, in a voice of exulting comprehension, belying his alleged stupidity.
'What you have been to me-'
'Have been-eh?' said this cruel cross-examiner.
'Do not let us waste time,' said Eleonora, in a trembling voice; 'you know very well.'
'Do I?'
'Now, Frank!'
'If you only knew what it would be worth to me to hear you say it!'
'I'm afraid it would be only worth pain and grief to you, and anger from every one,' said she, in a low dejected voice, 'far more than I am worth.'
'You? Trust me to judge of that, Lenore. Would not you be worth all, and more than all, that flesh or spirit could feel! I could face it all for one look from you!' said Frank, with fervour from his heart of hearts.
'You make me more and more afraid. It is all too wretched to lead any one into. Since I knew the whole truth, I have tried to spare you from it.'
'That is why you have been so cold, and held so cruelly aloof all this time, so that if I had not caught one ray now and then, you would have broken my heart, Lenore; as it is, I've been wretched beyond description, hardly able to sleep by night or speak rationally by day. How had you the heart to serve me so, like a stony Greek statue?'
'I thought it must be right. It seemed to break my own heart too.'
'That's the woman's way of showing a thing is right; but why I can't see. If you did hate me, it might be all very well to throw me over; but if not, why torture two as well as one? Are you afraid of my people? I'll manage them.'
'You little know-'
'Know what?'
'All that made it cruel in Camilla to throw us together.'
'Cruel! when it was the crowning joy of my past life, and is to be the crowning joy of the future?'
'How can it? Frank, you must know the causes your mother has for abhorring any connection with our unhappy family.'
'My mother has too much sense to think a little extravagance among the men of a family can affect the daughters. I know the outer world is afraid of her, but she is the tenderest and most indulgent of mothers to us. No fear of her!'
'Ah! but that's not all.'
'You mean that she has not taken much to your sister. I know; and I'm very sorry; but bring them together, and it would soon be got over. Besides, it is not your sister, but you. What do you mean?' rather disconcerted.
'Then you really did not know of the old engagement between Camilla and your eldest brother?'
'Oh, oh! So she consented once! Then she will do so again.'
'Listen! Camilla broke it off because your mother could not resign her position to her.'
He gave a whistle of dismay, then recovering himself with a laugh, said, 'Fourth sons don't have such expectations founded on them. Don't fear, dearest; that can't be all the story, though no doubt it was part of it. My mother would rather go into a hermitage than stand in the way of Raymond's happiness. Some one must have made mischief.'
'It was not all,' said the girl; 'it was Lord Tyrrell's coming in the way. Yes, my father told me so; he held it up to me as an example of what one ought to do for one's family.'
'Then she was coerced?'
'I don't know; but such a marriage for me, with some one who would redeem the property, is their scheme for me. Even if your mother and brother could tolerate the thought of one of us, my poor dear father will never dare to consent as long as she is with him.'
'Nay, Lenore; have I not often heard her say she prefers happiness to ambition? Whatever she may have done, she has come to think differently. She has well-nigh told me so.'
'Yes, at Rockpier,' sighed Eleonora. 'Hark!' The sound of the ponies' bells and hoofs was heard; Lenore put her hand on his arm, and drew him aside on the grass, behind a clump of trees, hushing him by a silent pressure as he tried to remonstrate. He clasped her hand, and felt her trembling till the tinkling and tramp were gone by.
'You frightened darling!' were his first words, when she let him speak. 'Who would have thought you would be so shy? But we'll have it out, and-'
'It is not that,' interrupted Lenore, 'not maidenly shyness. That's for girls who are happy and secure. No; but I don't want to have it all overthrown at once-the first sweetness-'
'It can't be overthrown!' he said, holding arm and hand in the intense grasp.
'Not really, never; but there is no use in attempting anything till I am of age-next autumn, the 7th of November.'
'Say nothing till then!' exclaimed Frank, in some consternation.
'We are only where we were before! We are sure of each other now. It will be only vexation and harass,' said she, with the instinct of a persecuted creature.
'I couldn't,' said Frank. 'I could not keep it in with mother! It would not be right if I could, nor should I feel as if I were acting fairly by your father.'
'You are right, Frank. Forgive me! You don't know what it is to have to be always saving one's truth only by silence. Speak when you think right.'
'And I believe we shall find it far easier than you think. I'm not quite a beggar-except for you, my Lena. I should like to go home this minute, and tell mother and Charlie and Rose, that I'm-I'm treading on air; but I should only be fallen upon for thinking of anything but my task-work. So I'll take a leaf out of your book, you cautious Lenore, and wait till I come down victorious, happy and glorious-and I shall now. I feel as if you had given me power to scale Olympus, now I know I may carry your heart with me. Do you remember this, Lena?' He guided her hand to the smooth pebble on his chain. She responded by putting her own into his.
'My talisman!' he said. 'It has been my talisman of success many a time. I have laid my hand on it, and thought I was working for you. Mine! mine! mine! Waters cannot quench love-never fear.'
'Hush!' as the light of the opening hall door was seen, and Lady Tyrrell's voice was heard, saying, 'I thought we passed her; I am sure she was near.'
Eleonora withdrew her arm, patted Frank back, waved him into silence, and went forward, saying, 'Here I am, Camilla; I walked home.'
Her voice was calm and self-contained as ever-the unassailable dignity just as usual. The hall was full of officers, standing about the fire and drinking tea, and Eleonora's well-worn armour was instantly on, as her sister asked where she had been, since others had walked home and had not overtaken her.
'I came by the lower road,' said she.
'Indeed! I never saw you.'
'I saw you pass-or rather heard you.'
'And did not let me pick you up! Did you hide yourself?'
'It was much warmer to walk.'
'So you seem to have found it, to judge by your cheeks,' said Lady Tyrrell.
And Mr. Strangeways and one or two others could not restrain a murmured exclamation on the exceeding loveliness of that deepened colour and brightened eye; but Lenore only knew that an equally bright and keen eye was watching her heedfully, and knew that she was suspected, if not read through and through.
She mingled in the discussion of the skating, with those outward society-senses that she learnt to put on, and escaped as soon as possible to her own room.
Again she almost fell on the ground in her own little oratory chamber, in a tumult of gladness that was almost agony, and fear that was almost joy.
She wanted to give thanks that Frank had become so wholly and avowedly hers, and for that deep intense affection that had gone on, unfed, uncherished, for years; but the overflow of delight was checked with foreboding-
