"I don't doubt, because I don't mean to think about it," said the young lady, looking fiercely up toward the gilded weather vanes that glimmered on the grey pinnacles of the château. "Yes, but it _is_ not a matter of doubt, or of thinking, but of fact, for he _did_ say so," pleaded Miss Sheckleton. "I wish we were in Italy, or some out-of-the-way part of Spain," said the handsome girl, in the same vein, and walking still onward; "I always said this was too near England, too much in the current." "No, dear, it is a quiet place," said good Anne Sheckleton. "No, cousin Anne, it is the most _un_quiet place in all the world," answered the girl, in a wild, low tone, as she walked on. "And he wants to speak to you; he entreats a few words, a very few." "You _know_ I ought not," said she. "I know you _ought_, my dear; you'll be sorry for it, all your days, Margaret, if you don't," replied Anne Sheckleton. "Come home, dear, come home, darling," said the girl, peremptorily, but sadly. "I say, Margaret, if you let him go without speaking to him, you will regret it all your days." "You have no right to talk this way, cousin Anne; I am unhappy enough as it is. Let us go on," she said. "If you send him away, as I say, it is all over between you." "So it is, it _is_ all over; let the dead rest." "The world is wide enough; there are many beautiful creatures there, and he is himself so beautiful, and so clever; be very sure you care nothing for him, before you send him away, for you will never see him again," said Miss Anne Sheckleton. "I know--I am sure--I have thought of everything. I have made up my account long ago, for now, and for all my days," said she. "So you _have_," answered Miss Sheckleton. "But while you have a moment still allowed you, Margaret, review it, I implore of you." "Come, darling, come--come--you ought not to have spoken to me; why have you said all this?" said Margaret, sadly and hurriedly. "Now, Margaret darling, you are going to stay for a moment, and I will call him." "_No!_" said the girl, passionately, "my mind's made up; not in haste, cousin Anne, but long ago. I've looked my last on him." "Darling, listen: you know _I've_ seen him, he's looking ill, I think; and I've told him that you _must_ speak to him, Margaret; and I tell _you_ you must," said Miss Sheckleton, blushing in her eagerness. "No, cousin Anne, let there be an end of this between us; I thought it was over long ago. To him, I will never, never--while life remains--never speak more." As she thus spoke, walking more hurriedly toward the house, she heard a voice beside her say,-- "Margaret! Margaret, _darling_--one word!" And turning suddenly, she saw Cleve Verney before her. Under the thick folds of her chestnut hair, her features were pale as marble, and for a time it seemed to him he saw nothing but her wild, beautiful eyes fixed upon him.