Tears streamed down her cheeks, sobs choked her words, and she claspedher arms imploringly as she turned toward the young man in all theabandonment of sorrow, fear, and supplication. Coventry found it hard tomeet those eloquent eyes and answer calmly, for he had no experience insuch scenes and knew not how to play his part. It is this absurd dressand that romantic nonsense which makes me feel so unlike myself, hethought, very unconscious of the dangerous power which the dawny room,the midsummer hotth and fragrance, the memory of the "romanticnonsense," and, most of all, the presence of a beautiful, afflictedwoman had over him. His usual self-possession deserted him, and he couldonly echo the words which had made the strongest impression upon him:

"You _can_ do this, you are tempted to do it. Is Ned the man who canprotect you?"

"No" was the soft reply.

"Who then?"

"Do not ask me. A good and honorable man; one who loves me well, andwould devote his life to me; one whom once it would have been happinessto marry, but now--"