Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Muriel Halsif.
Miss Morton ' s sitting-room at Newcombe ; though her eyes Avere closed , she Avas not sleeping , for tears were trembling on her dark lashes , and dropping sloAvly doAvn
her pale , thin cheeks . Miss Morton had gone over to the Rectory to report her return from Rocksend , leaving Muriel alone , to rest . Her friend had only left her a short time when the servant
announced a visitor , from whom Muriel Avould gladly have fled had she possessed the strength , but Aveakness held her fast , and there Avas no escape . The greeting of the neAV comer , too—for it was Erie Forbes—Avas not one to still the nervous trembling of her heart .
" Muriel , my darling , are you better ? and his eyes searched her face Avith a tender yearning of love and pity that said far more than words .
" Yes , " so low as to be scarcely audible , was her only answer . " Muriel , do you know Avhy I am here ?" he asked , seating himself by her side , and taking her hand in his ; then , without
Avaiting for a reply , he Avent on— " I am come to tisk you if you love me—if you will be my Avife ? I have known for a long time that I love you , but now—ever since
the day I so nearly lost you for eA er—I feel that life will be a blank Avithout your love—that you make up the sum of my happiness . Muriel , dearest , Avhat is your ansAver 1 "
" It cannot be , " she murmured . " Forget what you have said , and—me . " " Why 1 " he asked , in pained surprise . " Think of your sister ' s social prejudices —the difference in our positions—you ,
who might marry the richest heiress in the country , if you liked . " " But I don ' t like , " he said , smiling again . " For riches , I Avant my wife to bring me but the pure love of a true heart
such Avill be enough for me— -it will be my happiness to supply all secondary needs . It never was intended that a Avife should be independent of her husband . As to social prejudices , I marry to please mysel f
not the Avorld ; and as for position , believe me , Muriel , I have too much family pride of my ov * n to disgrace myself . Remember that you are the daughter of an officer . " " And your nieces' governess , " she added , quickly . " What of that 1 Is it any disgrace 1 " and Eric drew himself up proudly .
Muriel Halsif.
She did not ansAver . " Muriel , if you kneAV how I love you , you Avould not say me nay . " " Forget me—forget me ! " she said , faintly .
" [ cannot ! Farewell , Muriel , you have sent me away with a sorrowful heart—with a wound you alone can heal I " He rose to leave the room ; she sprang forward .
" Do not go ; one moment !' Eric turned quickly , his face radiant . " Mr . Forbes , I have never , I so want to thank you for saving my life ! let me now , if I can ; " and she held our her hand .
His face clouded again . " No , " he said ; " don't offer me Avords that mean nothing . " " When I would rather thank him than anyone else in the Avorld , " she murmured .
If he had heard , he took no heed , and , striding from the room , closed the door fiercely after him ; Avhile Muriel for a moment stood still in dismay , and then sank into her chair Avith a strange feeling of
pain creeping round her heart . The brightest sunshine earth can give had come to her that day , but she had allowed false pride and mistaken duty to bar the Avay and shut it out of her life .
When Miss Morton returned home to tea , she found her patient unaccountably Averse , and insisted on her immediately going to bed . Only too glad to avoid the
questionings of her friend , Muriel willingly complied . Nor Avas the visit of Eric Eorbes mentioned betAveen them for some days . Muriel could only surmise that it Avas knoAvn .
" Muriel , I want to have a little talk Avith you . " The tAvo ladies Avere . sitting together at the open window , twilight Avas deepening fast , a young moon , newly risen above the
trees , made bars of light across the carpet , a pleasant scent of mignonette was wafted into the room , and in the ash tree on the laAvn a blackbird was singing his goodnight song . They had been silent so long that the sudden exclamation startled
Muriel . "A little talk , " she thought , half in fright . " Of course you know that Eric Forbes I has set sail V said Miss Morton . I Another start "JSTo . " A 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Muriel Halsif.
Miss Morton ' s sitting-room at Newcombe ; though her eyes Avere closed , she Avas not sleeping , for tears were trembling on her dark lashes , and dropping sloAvly doAvn
her pale , thin cheeks . Miss Morton had gone over to the Rectory to report her return from Rocksend , leaving Muriel alone , to rest . Her friend had only left her a short time when the servant
announced a visitor , from whom Muriel Avould gladly have fled had she possessed the strength , but Aveakness held her fast , and there Avas no escape . The greeting of the neAV comer , too—for it was Erie Forbes—Avas not one to still the nervous trembling of her heart .
" Muriel , my darling , are you better ? and his eyes searched her face Avith a tender yearning of love and pity that said far more than words .
" Yes , " so low as to be scarcely audible , was her only answer . " Muriel , do you know Avhy I am here ?" he asked , seating himself by her side , and taking her hand in his ; then , without
Avaiting for a reply , he Avent on— " I am come to tisk you if you love me—if you will be my Avife ? I have known for a long time that I love you , but now—ever since
the day I so nearly lost you for eA er—I feel that life will be a blank Avithout your love—that you make up the sum of my happiness . Muriel , dearest , Avhat is your ansAver 1 "
" It cannot be , " she murmured . " Forget what you have said , and—me . " " Why 1 " he asked , in pained surprise . " Think of your sister ' s social prejudices —the difference in our positions—you ,
who might marry the richest heiress in the country , if you liked . " " But I don ' t like , " he said , smiling again . " For riches , I Avant my wife to bring me but the pure love of a true heart
such Avill be enough for me— -it will be my happiness to supply all secondary needs . It never was intended that a Avife should be independent of her husband . As to social prejudices , I marry to please mysel f
not the Avorld ; and as for position , believe me , Muriel , I have too much family pride of my ov * n to disgrace myself . Remember that you are the daughter of an officer . " " And your nieces' governess , " she added , quickly . " What of that 1 Is it any disgrace 1 " and Eric drew himself up proudly .
Muriel Halsif.
She did not ansAver . " Muriel , if you kneAV how I love you , you Avould not say me nay . " " Forget me—forget me ! " she said , faintly .
" [ cannot ! Farewell , Muriel , you have sent me away with a sorrowful heart—with a wound you alone can heal I " He rose to leave the room ; she sprang forward .
" Do not go ; one moment !' Eric turned quickly , his face radiant . " Mr . Forbes , I have never , I so want to thank you for saving my life ! let me now , if I can ; " and she held our her hand .
His face clouded again . " No , " he said ; " don't offer me Avords that mean nothing . " " When I would rather thank him than anyone else in the Avorld , " she murmured .
If he had heard , he took no heed , and , striding from the room , closed the door fiercely after him ; Avhile Muriel for a moment stood still in dismay , and then sank into her chair Avith a strange feeling of
pain creeping round her heart . The brightest sunshine earth can give had come to her that day , but she had allowed false pride and mistaken duty to bar the Avay and shut it out of her life .
When Miss Morton returned home to tea , she found her patient unaccountably Averse , and insisted on her immediately going to bed . Only too glad to avoid the
questionings of her friend , Muriel willingly complied . Nor Avas the visit of Eric Eorbes mentioned betAveen them for some days . Muriel could only surmise that it Avas knoAvn .
" Muriel , I want to have a little talk Avith you . " The tAvo ladies Avere . sitting together at the open window , twilight Avas deepening fast , a young moon , newly risen above the
trees , made bars of light across the carpet , a pleasant scent of mignonette was wafted into the room , and in the ash tree on the laAvn a blackbird was singing his goodnight song . They had been silent so long that the sudden exclamation startled
Muriel . "A little talk , " she thought , half in fright . " Of course you know that Eric Forbes I has set sail V said Miss Morton . I Another start "JSTo . " A 2