‘Do not press me to reply,’ answered Rose.
’The question does not arise, and never will.
It is unfair, almost unkind, to urge it.’
‘If your answer be what I almost dare to hope
it is,’ retorted Harry, ’it will shed
a gleam of happiness upon my lonely way, and light
the path before me. It is not an idle thing to
do so much, by the utterance of a few brief words,
for one who loves you beyond all else. Oh, Rose:
in the name of my ardent and enduring attachment;
in the name of all I have suffered for you, and all
you doom me to undergo; answer me this one question!’
‘Then, if your lot had been differently cast,’
rejoined Rose; ’if you had been even a little,
but not so far, above me; if I could have been a help
and comfort to you in any humble scene of peace and
retirement, and not a blot and drawback in ambitious
and distinguished crowds; I should have been spared
this trial. I have every reason to be happy,
very happy, now; but then, Harry, I own I should have
been happier.’
Busy recollections of old hopes, cherished as a girl,
long ago, crowded into the mind of Rose, while making
this avowal; but they brought tears with them, as
old hopes will when they come back withered; and they
relieved her.
‘I cannot help this weakness, and it makes my
purpose stronger,’ said Rose, extending her
hand. ‘I must leave you now, indeed.’
‘I ask one promise,’ said Harry.
’Once, and only once more,—say within
a year, but it may be much sooner,—I may
speak to you again on this subject, for the last time.’
‘Not to press me to alter my right determination,’
replied Rose, with a melancholy smile; ‘it will
be useless.’
‘No,’ said Harry; ’to hear you repeat
it, if you will—finally repeat it!
I will lay at your feet, whatever of station of fortune
I may possess; and if you still adhere to your present
resolution, will not seek, by word or act, to change
it.’
‘Then let it be so,’ rejoined Rose; ’it
is but one pang the more, and by that time I may be
enabled to bear it better.’
She extended her hand again. But the young man
caught her to his bosom; and imprinting one kiss on
her beautiful forehead, hurried from the room.
IS A VERY SHORT ONE, AND MAY APPEAR OF NO GREAT IMPORTANCE
IN ITS PLACE, BUT IT SHOULD BE READ NOTWITHSTANDING,
AS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST, AND A KEY TO ONE THAT WILL
FOLLOW WHEN ITS TIME ARRIVES
’And so you are resolved to be my travelling
companion this morning; eh?’ said the doctor,
as Harry Maylie joined him and Oliver at the breakfast-table.
’Why, you are not in the same mind or intention
two half-hours together!’
‘You will tell me a different tale one of these
days,’ said Harry, colouring without any perceptible
reason.
