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"The truth!" she said slowly "Always the truth was best! Well, then, take

the truth, and afterwards and forever and ever leave me alone! You have

been frank; why should not I, who, you say, am like no other woman, be so,

too? I will not marry you, because--because"--The cri her whiter than before She put her

hands, that still held the wild flowers, to her breast, and her eyes, dark

with pain, met his "Had you loved me," she said proudly and quietly, "I

had been happy"

Haward stepped backwards until there lay between them a strip of sunny

earth The , and yet

the forest seeuess," he said,

speaking slowly and with his eyes upon the ground "I have spoken like a

brute I beg your pardon"

"You uessed!" she cried, with passion

"But, you walk an even way; you choose nor high nor low; you look deep

into your mind, but your heart you keep cool and vacant Oh, a very

temperate land! I think that others less wise than you may also be less

blind Never speak to

in this hot sunshine! Now let us walk to the coach and waken h"

Side by side, but without speaking, they ht to shadon the road to the great pine-tree The