Suddenly Dudleigh dashed his hand across his eyes, and walked swiftly onward. Edith followed as fast as she could, keeping him in sight, but falling farther and farther behind. At length he turned and came back to meet her. His eyes were downcast, and there was misery unspeakable on his white face. As he came up to her he held out his hand, and looked at her with a strange, woful gaze.
"Miss Dalton," said he, "you said you would be mine."
[Illustration: "THEN HE DROPPED HER HAND, AND TURNED AWAY."]
Edith's lips moved, but no sound escaped them.
"All that you have said, Miss Dalton," he continued, "I feel most deeply, most keenly; but how else could it have been? Yet if you will indeed be mine, I will give you my love and gratitude. I will save you from--from danger; I will--will--bless you." He stopped, and looked at her with quivering lips, while an expression of agony came across his face.
But Edith's eyes were downcast now, and she did not see this new anguish of his; her own distress was too great.
"Where shall it be?" said he, hurriedly and nervously. "It can not be in the Hall. Will you venture to pass the gates with me?--I will force my way through--or are you afraid?"
"I can not consent to bloodshed," said Edith.
"I thought of that," said Dudleigh, "and I have one more plan--if you will only consent. It is not much to you who have suffered so much. It will make your way to freedom easy. Can we not meet in the park somewhere--in some secluded place?"
"In the park?" repeated Edith, abstractedly.
"I can bring a clergyman inside," said Dudleigh, in a low voice.
Edith shuddered. The idea was not yet less repugnant than it had been. But she had consented, and here was this man--her only friend, her adorer--with all his love and devotion. If she did not love him, she must pity him. She had also given her word. As to the way in which this promise might be carried out, it was a matter of indifference. At any rate, she would escape from her hateful prison. And what mattered it how, or where, or when the ceremony might be performed?
"Oh, Miss Dalton," said Dudleigh, "forgive me! forgive me! I must go away in two days. Could you consent to let this be--tomorrow?"
Edith made no reply. She trembled. Her head sank down lower.