Herman Brudenell was blushing now, if he had never blushed before; his very brow was crimson. Hannah had to reiterate her question before his hesitating tongue could answer it. "My intentions, Hannah? Nothing wrong, I do swear to you! Heaven knows, I mean no harm." "I believe that, Mr. Brudenell! I have always believed it, else be sure that I should have found means to compel your absence. But though you might have meant no harm, did you mean any good, Mr. Brudenell?" "Hannah, I fear that I meant nothing but to enjoy the great pleasure I derived from--from--Nora's society, and--" "Stop there, Mr. Brudenell; do not add--mine; for that would be an insincerity unworthy of you! Of me you did not think, except as a marplot! You say you came for the great pleasure you enjoyed in Nora's society! Did it ever occur to you that she might learn to take too much pleasure in yours? Answer me truly." "Hannah, yes, I believed that she was very happy in my company." "In a word, you liked her, and you knew you were winning her liking! And yet you had no intentions of any sort, you say; you meant nothing, you admit, but to enjoy yourself! How, Mr. Brudenell, do you think it a manly part for a gentleman to seek to win a poor girl's love merely for his pastime?" "Hannah, you are severe on me! Heaven knows I have never spoken one word of love to Nora." "'Never spoken one word!' What of that? What need of words? Are not glances, are not tones, far more eloquent than words? With these glances and tones you have a thousand times assured my young sister that you love her, that you adore her, that you worship her!" "Hannah, if my eyes spoke this language to Nora, they spoke Heaven's own truth! There! I have told you more than I ever told her, for to her my eyes only have spoken!" said the young man fervently. "Of what were you talking with your heads so close together this morning?" asked Hannah abruptly. "How do I know? Of birds, of flowers, moonshine, or some such rubbish. I was not heeding my words." "No, your eyes were too busy! And now, Mr. Brudenell, I repeat my question: Was yours a manly part--discoursing all this love to Nora, and having no ultimate intentions?" "Hannah, I never questioned my conscience upon that point; I was too happy for such cross-examination." "But now the question is forced upon you, Mr. Brudenell, and we must have an answer now and here." "Then, Hannah, I will answer truly! I love Nora; and if I were free to marry, I would make her my wife to-morrow; but I am not; therefore I have been wrong, and very wrong, to seek her society. I acted, however, from want of thought, not from want of principle; I hope you will believe that, Hannah." "I do believe it, Mr. Brudenell." "And now I put myself in your hands, Hannah! Direct me as you think best; I will obey you. What shall I do?" "See Nora no more; from this day absent yourself from our house."