“Listen,” he said: “if what your father has said be not the wanderings of a disturbed mind, the return of the gentleman who has recently visited him, from India, has opened up to him an immediate return to some former wealthy position, even though the instrument appears as unconscious of his power to effect it as we are.”
“So I understand it,” returned Flora, finding Hal pause.
“Then,” he exclaimed, strong feeling being manifest in the tone of his voice, “I should not, I trust you will credit me, be sorry that he had achieved his immediate release from this filthy prison, or that he and you--you, Miss Wilton, were restored to a position you so eminently deserve to occupy; but I should, I fear, grieve to think that all your good could not be accomplished without my discomfort.”
“Your discomfort?” asked Flora, catching his arm, and looking into his eyes with an expression of interest for which he would have willingly pressed her to his heart if he dared.
He was a little confused, for he saw plain enough that if he had no heart to pain her, she had no desire to occasion him discomfort.
“Well, Miss Wilton,” he answered, “to speak honestly to you--I had reared up a little fabric, based upon what I thought to be your condition; I had expected from it much happiness, perhaps that of securing to you immunity from troubles and trials, so far as I could. By the return of this Indian officer, it is dashed to the ground, and shattered to atoms. I rejoice most sincerely that it has brought you and your father good, but do not think harshly of me if I selfishly regret that by it my prospects of felicity are swept away entirely In the time to come, when difference of position shall part us for ever, may I ask you, Flora--Miss Wilton--to believe that, had the opportunity been afforded me, I would, when tried, have proved to you a sincere and a true friend?”
“In the time to come--when we shall part for ever--what difference of station should part us? Oh, Mr. Vivian, I could not--I would not, accept a position which might bring such an estrangement to pass. I would sooner die--I owe--my life--to your bravery.” She seized his hand and kissed it, and then burst into tears.
Hal was almost in the act of placing his arm about her, and giving vent to a passionate declaration, when a hand was placed upon his shoulder.