"He did not answer in words, but took my two hands between his, and bent his eyes upon me with a glance so searching, that I shrunk away from him, for the moonlight gave supernatural intensity to his face. "'To-morrow, and I think forever; believe me, it is better so.' "'Better? Forever! forever! Oh, these are terrible words!' I cried, scarcely caring to conceal the anguish which wrung such expressions from me. "'They seem terrible to youth, I know,' he answered, sadly; 'but after a while you will learn that time softens even our ideas of eternity. Life is, and must be, one continued scene of parting.' "'But parting is such pain,' I pleaded. "'Pain does not last forever.' "'Oh, it will; it must!' I cried out, in a passionate protest. "The man smiled, and shook his head, sadly enough. "'It seems so now; but you will know more of the world some day, and learn to cast deep feeling from you. It is a sad drawback in life.' "'And you have learned this lesson?' I asked, half in tears, half angrily. "He paused a moment, made a gesture as if he were casting some great restraint upon himself, and then answered: "'Yes, I have learned the lesson. So must you.' "'But I can not. God made me as I am. It is my nature to feel and suffer keenly.' "'I think so. Yet in a little time how all this may change!' "'Never!' "'Ah, yes; and when that change comes--when you are brilliant, careless, a beautiful coquette, perhaps we can meet again, and play with the foam of life pleasantly, as it is tossed to our feet by the waves of society; but deep waters are treacherous; we must not trust to them.' "'You talk strangely,' I said, feeling an angry fire kindling against him in my bosom. "'I talk honestly, as you will admit some day.' "I turned from him, angry with the tone of protection and superiority which he had assumed. Surely I was no school-girl to be thus adroitly put upon my good behavior. "'You are angry with me?' "'Yes; I have cause. You seem to speak from premises which I do not understand. What have I done that you should lecture me so?' "My anger seemed to amuse him. His eyes flashed, and he laughed a low, sweet laugh, that the rippling wind carried off in its murmurs. "'What have you done, child? Why, wandered off here, at the peril of your health, when you should have been quietly sleeping!' "'But you have done the same thing!' "'Yes; but nothing harms me. Being a man, I know how to take care of myself.' "'Is it a part of manhood to be without feeling?' "'And you charge me with that?' "'Yes, I do, or you would never speak of me with an idea that I could become a brilliant coquette.' "'Indeed! Why, are you not a woman?' "I turned to move away. There was something bitter in his utterance of the last word that irritated me. "He followed me. "'You did not hear me out,' he said;--'and a beautiful woman--can such rare beings escape admiration?'