Page 193 - The snake's pass

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IN THE CLIFF FIELDS. 181
Andy ! And so my jocose friend knew all along ! Well,
wait ! I must be even with him !
"
" Your aunt ?
" Yes ; my aunt Kate. Father sent me up to her,
for he knew it would distress me to see all our things
moved from our dear old home—all my mother's things.
And father would have been distressed to see me grieved,
and I to see him. It was kind of him ; he is always so
good to me."
" He is a good man, Norah—I know that ; I only hope
he won't hate me."
"Why?"—This was said very faintly.
" For wanting to carry off his daughter. Don't go,
Norah. For God's sake, don't go ! I shall not say any-
thing you do not wish ; but if you only knew the agony
I have been in since I saw you last—when I thought I
had lost you — you would pity me—indeed you would!
Norah, I love you ! No ! you must listen to me — you
must ! I want you to be my wife—I shall love and
honour you all my life Don't refuse me, dear ; don't
!
"
draw back—for I love you —I love you !
!
There, it was all out. The pent-up waters find their
own course.
For a minute, at least, Norah sat still. Then she
turned to me very gravely, and there were tears in her
eyes :
"Oh, why did you speak like that, sir?—why did
you speak like that ? Let me go —let me go ! You
!
"
must not try to detain me —I stood back, for we had
!