"Yes, yes," she said, eagerly. "I know that it may seem strange, but, Philip, I could not rest till I had spoken to you. Heaven willed that we should not be one, and I am now another's. You loved me once; will you, for the sake of that old love, make me a promise?" "Loved you once--promise!" said Norton, bitterly. "Yes," she cried, eagerly; "promise me, and then let the past be dead." "What would you have me promise?" he said. "Though you fail with yours." "Hush!" she said, imploringly; "do not be cruel. Now, at once, promise for the sake of our old dead love, that the past shall all be forgotten, and that you will treat my husband as a friend." "The man who robbed me of all my hopes!" "Oh, hush! Do not speak so, Philip. There was some talk, before we left England, of a meeting--of angry words between you, and it was for this that I fostered Sir Murray's desire to live abroad. But you will promise me, will you not--on your word--yours, Philip--that there shall never be a quarrel between you?" "Lady Gernon," said Philip, coldly, "your husband is safe from me. My madness is at an end, and I am now your cousin's husband. There, for Heaven's sake!" he cried, a change coming over him, "never let us refer to the past, and let us meet but seldom. Come back into the house. Forgive me if I speak bitterly, but the sight of your happiness would drive me to forget the duties I owe to others. Why did you come?" "For my husband's sake," said Lady Gernon. "And now, from my soul, I thank you. I know how worthless are my promises," she said, bitterly; "but I can confide in yours. Now let us return." The blood was mantling in Philip Norton's forehead, and he was about to speak, when an end was put to the painful interview by the merry, prattling voice of a child, and Philip's bright little fellow came running up, but only to draw back shyly on seeing the strange lady, who sank upon her knees with outstretched hands, as if hungering to clasp the child to her breast. "Yours?--your boy, Philip?" she said. "Mine, Lady Gernon," said Norton, coldly, for he had once more regained control of himself. Then, stooping over the child, "Go to that lady, Brace," he said; and in obedience the child suffered himself to be caressed, Lady Gernon kissing his bright little face eagerly, a tear or two falling the while upon his sunny hair.