"I will not," says the young man, turning a little pale, while the smile dies out of his eyes and from round his lips. "I dread to put my injuries into words. Should they anger you, you might with one look seal my death-warrant." "Am I so blood-thirsty? How badly you think of me!" "Do I?" Reading with the wistful sadness of uncertainty her lovely face. "You know better than that. You know too--do you not?--what it is I would say,--if I dared. Oh, Molly, what have you done to me, what witchery have you used, that, after escaping for twenty-seven long years, I should now fall so hopelessly in----" "Hush!" says Molly, quickly, and, letting her hand fall lightly on his forehead, brings it slowly, slowly, over his eyes and down his face, until at length it rests upon his lips rebukingly. "Not another word. You have known me but a few days,--but a little short three weeks,--and you would----" "Yes, I would," eagerly, devouring with fond kisses the snow-flake that would stay his words. "Three weeks,--a year,--ten years,--what does it matter? I think the very first night I saw you here in this garden the mischief was done. My heart left me. You stole the very best of me; and will you give nothing in exchange?" "I will not listen," says Molly, covering her ears with her hands, but not so closely that she must be deaf. "Do you hear? You are to be silent." "Do you forbid me to speak?" "Yes; I am in a hurry; I cannot listen,--_now_," says this born coquette, unable to release her slave so soon. "Some other time,--when you know me better,--you will listen then: is that what you mean?" Still detaining her with passionate entreaty both in tone and manner. "Molly, give me one word of hope." "I don't know what I mean," she says, effecting her escape, and moving back to the security of the drawing-room window, which stands open. "I never do know. And I have not got the least bit of memory in the world. Do you know I came out here to tell you tea was to be brought out for us under the trees on the lawn; and when I saw you I forgot everything. Is that a hopeful sign?" With a playful smile. "I will try to think so; and--don't go yet, Molly." Seeing her about to enter the drawing-room. "Surely, if tea is to be on the lawn, it is there we ought to go." "I am half afraid of you. If I consent to bestow upon you a little more of my society, will you promise not to talk in--in--that way again to me?" "But----" "I will have no 'buts.' Promise what I ask, or I will hide myself from you for the rest of the day." "I swear, then," says he; and, so protected, Miss Massereene ventures down the balcony steps and accompanies him to the shaded end of the lawn.