"'I never mean to say good-bye to you at all, Kate. If this is the trouble you hinted at, you overrate it entirely. Why, two people out of every seven are somnambulists. It is as common as to have black hair. Besides, you will outgrow it in a few years; it is only a nervous affection, which any doctor can cure.' "'It is not that; you don't understand,' she said, with a sigh. "'Whatever it is, I'm determined not to lose you. I shall tell your father, when I see him, that I love you, and that wherever he takes you I shall follow. No one can or shall keep us apart.' "The resolution with which I spoke seemed to impress her somewhat. 'You can speak to him if you will. But, oh! it is no use. It cannot be; you don't understand. Let me go; good-bye. No, do not come with me; please do not! I have a reason for asking it. I will see you once more--to-morrow, before we leave. But let me go alone now, if you love me.' "She went, walking quickly away through the wood. I watched her for a few moments, and then returned to the grass plot beneath the tree, and threw myself down there in a very dissatisfied frame of mind. The sun had set before I returned to the hotel. V. "I saw nothing more of Kate that day; but I came across Slurk several times, and there was a peculiar look on the fellow's countenance which made me renew my longing to chastise him. I was anxious to know whether Mr. Birchmore had returned; but, as I could not bring myself to make any inquiries of his valet, and did not care to let him see me asking anyone else, I was obliged to remain in ignorance. However, as I sat out under the trees at dusk, a tall figure, with a lighted cigar in his mouth, appeared in the doorway of the hotel, and, on my saluting him, he sauntered up to my table, and complied with my invitation to sit down. "The waiter brought us coffee; and under its stimulus I ventured to introduce the subject which lay nearest my heart to Mr. Birchmore's notice. No doubt I put my best foot foremost, and spoke as eloquently as was consistent with my downright earnestness and sincerity. Mr. Birchmore heard me almost in silence, only giving evidence by an occasional word or interjection that he was giving me his attention. Once or twice, too, I was aware of his having given me one of those sharp icy glances for which he was remarkable. When I had spoken, he fingered the pointed beard on his chin meditatively, and puffed his cigar. "'This is a very fair and honourable offer that you make, Gainsborough,' he said at length. 'I liked you before; I like you better now. You take it for granted, I suppose, that I'm pretty well off. There, you needn't say anything; I've no doubt of your disinterestedness; but these matters would have to be mentioned, sooner or later, if the affair went on. I say "if," because--I may as well tell you at once; it will save us all pain--because it can't go on: it must stop right here; and I can only regret, for both your sakes, that it has gone so far.'