"I speak to you as his brother," answered Sylv--"his brother, whom he sent here of his own accord to watch over you; and I say that it would be wrong. You would not be happy yourself, and you would find it impossible to make him happy." Adela drew her hand away. "But I have promised him! And I will keep my promise." As she spoke she rose erect: he could hear her close her teeth with a grating sound. "I don't intend to argue about it," he said. "You are free to settle everything your own way. It appeared to me like I must tell you my opinion. That's the end of it, Deely." He paused. "I got a letter from Mr. Lance; says he's got back, and is coming up to see you. But _I_ am going away to-morrow." Adela started violently. "_You_ going away!" Then she trembled toward him and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Oh no, no! Don't leave me now, Sylv. Don't go away!" "I must," he replied. "I've got through. I've done all I can. I must go back to work for Mr. Lance." Adela's hands still rested on his arms. He could hardly move them otherwise than to enfold and sustain her. Unable to support herself, she drooped and sank toward him for an instant. "Dear--dear--sister," he almost groaned, "don't despair! Don't give way! I wish I could save you from suffering." She recovered herself and stood upright before him, looking into his eyes. She trembled, and he longed to embrace her once more, holding her to his heart for as long as he should live. But neither of them made any movement toward such a renewal of her dependence upon him. Steadily, yet with a kind of doubt and fear, they gazed at one another; and the whole story of their hearts was made clear. But not one word of passion was uttered. "I must leave--must leave to-morrow," Sylv repeated, as they started simultaneously to go back to the school; "and I think I will send Dennie up here." Instead of advancing this proposition with the courage he wanted to show, he made it sound like the knell of all their hopes. Nerving himself, he added: "Shall I tell him you've forgiven him?" This time, by a prodigious effort, he spoke bravely; yet his eyes, without his knowledge, seemed to beg her to come to the aid of his failing fortitude. "Shall I tell him?" "Yes." "And that you're ready to go with him now?" The faltering look had vanished. A white, still light of triumph rested on his paling face. "Yes," said Adela again, with trembling lips. CHAPTER XIII. LANCE AND ADELA. Sylv was on the point of beginning his journey, when Lance walked into his boarding-place with a hearty salutation. "Isn't this very sudden?" he asked, with pronounced astonishment at Sylv's new move. "It looks so to you," said the young man. "But I've been thinking it over a long time. It isn't best for me to stay here." Lance saw that something was held in reserve, but could not conjecture what. "Suit yourself, Sylv," he returned. "If you're satisfied, I ought to be."