He had one of her hands in his, but it was cold and pulseless, and it seemed to him it told her answer before she said, very kindly, as if sorry to give him pain: 

“I believe you are my cousin, or, rather, my mother’s, and I can esteem you as such, but I cannot be your wife.”

“Because you love Jack Harcourt, I suppose,” Howard said, a little bitterly, and Eloise replied, “I do not think we should bring Mr. Harcourt into the discussion.  When he asks me to be his wife it will be time to know whether I love him or not.  I cannot marry you.”

She arose to go, while Howard tried to detain her, feeling every moment how his love was growing for this girl who had so recently come into his life, and was crossing his path, as he had felt she would when he first heard of her from his uncle, and had promised to sound her as to her fitness for a teacher.  There had been no need for that; his uncle was dead, and she was going from him, perhaps to return as a usurper.

“Eloise,” he said again, with more feeling in his voice than when he first spoke, “you must listen to me.  I cannot give you up.  I would rather lose Crompton, if it is mine, than to lose you.”

Rising to his feet, he took her face between his hands and kissed it passionately.

“How dare you!” she said, wresting herself from him.

“Because I dare!  Jack may have the second kiss, but I have had the first,” he replied.  Then his manner changed, and he said, entreatingly, “Forgive me, Eloise, I was beside myself for a moment.  Don’t give me an answer now.  Think of what I have said while you are gone, if you will go; and if you fail, remember this is your home and your mother’s, just as much as it will be if you succeed.  Promise me you will come back here whatever happens.  You will come?”

“For a time, yes; till I know what to do if I fail,” she replied.

Then she went out and left him alone, to go again through the pigeon-holes and drawers and shelves he had been through so often and found nothing.

CHAPTER VI

IN FLORIDA

The Boston train was steaming into the Central Station in New York, and Eloise was gathering up her satchels and wraps, and looking anxiously out into the deepening twilight, wondering if the cars would be gone from the Jersey side, and what she should do if they were.  She had intended taking a train which reached New York earlier, but there was some mistake in her reading of the time-table, and now it was growing dark, and for a moment her courage began to fail her, and she half wished herself back in Crompton, where every one had been so kind to her, and where every one had looked upon the journey as useless, except the rector and Ruby.  These had encouraged her to go, and Ruby had furnished the money and had been very hopeful, and told her there was nothing to fear even in New York, which Eloise dreaded the most.  Howard had seen her to the train and got her seats in the parlor car, and said to her, as he had once before: