Part 14 (2/2)
”What was your reason?” she inquired, breathless with anxiety, as if half fearing his reply.
He had determined not to tell her the truth.
”Oh, a very foolish one,” replied he, with a laugh. ”It was a mere fancy.”
”Only a fancy,” she said dreamily. ”Are you sure it was nothing more?”
”Why are you so anxious to know?” he demanded, raising her hand to his lips.
”It's feminine curiosity, I suppose,” she said, smiling.
”Well, then, I a.s.sure you it was only an absurd notion that somehow took possession of me.”
”An absurd notion,” she echoed absently. ”Why, of course it is! How could I have known your brother when I have been so little in England?”
”You might have met him in society.”
”No; believe me, to my knowledge I have never seen him. If I had, what difference could it make?”
”If you entertained any affection for him--”
”What nonsense you are talking to-day, Hugh,” she interrupted, with a little derisive laugh. ”I really believe you are jealous.”
”Perhaps I am,” he admitted; ”but, you see, I love so well that any such shortcoming you really must excuse.”
He laughed inwardly at the glibness of his invention.
But her manner had suddenly changed.
”You will love me always, will you not, Hugh?” she whispered earnestly.
”Yes, dearest; of course I shall,” he replied tenderly. ”I have spoken unkindly--forgive me.”
Bravely smothering a storm of rising sobs, she held him with both her small hands until she had sufficiently controlled herself to speak.
”I thought a few moments ago that--that you no longer cared for me,” she said, with an effort, watching the effect of her words with wide-open, earnest eyes.
”No, Valerie, you were mistaken,” he replied in a low, intense tone. ”I love you, and nothing shall ever part us.”
They had risen, and were standing together before the fireplace.
For a moment she stared vacantly before her. Then she threw herself into his arms, and, clinging to him convulsively, hid her face upon his shoulder.
”I love you, Hugh; I love you more than I have loved any man,” she murmured.
He strained her to his heart--a heart remorseful, even miserable and unhappy. Not even her declaration of love brought him a ray of consolation, for the gnawing consciousness of some deep mystery connected with her past, and the danger of their love for one another, had crushed all happiness from his soul.
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