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He had not waited for her to respond, but had left her at once, and, so

that she should not think him quite heartbroken, had hummed an air as he

went

And now that he lay here 'twixt life and death, Nell's heart ached for

hi beyond all words, that she could

have returned the love he bore her

But alas, alas! she had no love to give Drake had stolen it long ago,

there at Shorne Mills; and though he had flung it from him, it could not

come back to her

Even as she sat, with Falconer's hand in hers, she could not keep her

h the failure of her attempt to do so

covered her with shaain, had heard his

voice, and the glamour of his presence and his touch were upon her

His face hovered before her in the di longing of unsatisfied love

Oh, why could she not forget hi herself to