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mother and his sisters were bent on his marrying another lady；
and that they were bitterly mortified and disappointed by his
choosing a stranger to the family。 This explanation was enough
for me； it implied； so far as I was concerned； a compliment to my
superior influence over Eustace； which a woman always receives
with pleasure。 But it failed to satisfy my uncle and my aunt。 The
vicar expressed to Mr。 Woodville a wish to write to his mother；
or to see her； on the subject of her strange message。 Eustace
obstinately declined to mention his mother's address； on the
ground that the vicar's interference would be utterly useless。 My
uncle at once drew the conclusion that the mystery about the
address indicated something wrong。 He refused to favor Mr。
Woodville's renewed proposal for my hand； and he wrote the same
day to make inquiries of Mr。 Woodville's reference and of his own
friend Major Fitz…David。
Under such circumstances as these； to speak of my uncle's motives
was to venture on very delicate ground。 Eustace relieved me from
further embarrassment by asking a question to which I could
easily reply。
〃Has your uncle received any answer from Major Fitz…David？〃 he
inquired。
〃Yes。
〃Were you allowed to read it？〃 His voice sank as he said those
words； his face betrayed a sudden anxiety which it pained me to
see。
〃I have got the answer with me to show you；〃 I said。
He almost snatched the letter out of my hand； he turned his back
on me to read it by the light of the moon。 The letter was short
enough to be soon read。 I could have repeated it at the time。 I
can repeat it now。
〃DEAR VICARMr。 Eustace Woodville is quite correct in stating
to you that he is a gentleman by birth and position； and that he
inherits （under his deceased father's will） an independent
fortune of two thousand a year。
〃Always yours；
〃LAWRENCE FITZ…DAVID。〃
〃Can anybody wish for a plainer answer than that？〃 Eustace
asked； handing the letter back to me。
〃If _I_ had written for information about you；〃 I answered； 〃it
would have been plain enough for me。〃
〃Is it not plain enough for your uncle？〃
〃No。〃
〃What does he say？〃
〃Why need you care to know； my darling？〃
〃I want to know； Valeria。 There must be no secret between us in
this matter。 Did your uncle say anything when he showed you the
major's letter？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What was it？〃
〃My uncle told me that his letter of inquiry filled three pages；
and he bade me observe that the major's answer contained one
sentence only。 He said； 'I volunteered to go to Major Fitz…David
and talk the matter over。 You see he takes no notice of my
proposal。 I asked him for the address of Mr。 Woodville's mother。
He passes over my request； as he has passed over my proposalhe
studiously confines himself to the shortest possible statement of
bare facts。 Use your common…sense； Valeria。 Isn't this rudeness
rather remarkable on the part of a man who is a gentleman by
birth and breeding； and who is also a friend of mine？'〃
Eustace stopped me there。
〃Did you answer your uncle's question？〃 he asked。
〃No；〃 I replied。 〃I only said that I did not understand the
major's conduct。〃
〃And what did your uncle say next？ If you love me； Valeria； tell
me the truth。〃
〃He used very stron g language； Eustace。 He is an old man； you
must not be offended with him。〃
〃I am not offended。 What did he say？〃
〃He said； 'Mark my words！ There is something under the surface in
connection with Mr。 Woodville； or with his family； to which Major
Fitz…David is not at liberty to allude。 Properly interpreted；
Valeria； that letter is a warning。 Show it to Mr。 Woodville； and
tell him （if you like） what I have just told you'〃
Eustace stopped me again。
〃You are sure your uncle said those words？〃 he asked； scanning my
face attentively in the moonlight。
〃Quite sure。 But I don't say what my uncle says。 Pray don't think
that！〃
He suddenly pressed me to his bosom； and fixed his eyes on mine。
His look frightened me。
〃Good…by； Valeria！〃 he said。 〃Try and think kindly of me； my
darling； when you are married to some happier man。〃
He attempted to leave me。 I clung to him in an agony of terror
that shook me from head to foot。
〃What do you mean？〃 I asked； as soon as I could speak。 〃I am
yours and yours only。 What have I said； what have I done； to
deserve those dreadful words？〃
〃We must part； my angel；〃 he answered； sadly。 〃The fault is none
of yours； the misfortune is all mine。 My Valeria！ how can you
marry a man who is an object of suspicion to your nearest and
dearest friends？ I have led a dreary life。 I have never found in
any other woman the sympathy with me； the sweet comfort and
companionship； that I find in you。 Oh； it is hard to lose you！ it
is hard to go back again to my unfriended life！ I must make the
sacrifice； love； for your sake。 I know no more why that letter is
what it is than you do。 Will your uncle believe me？ will your
friends believe me？ One last kiss； Valeria！ Forgive me for having
loved youpassionately； devotedly loved you。 Forgive meand let
me go！〃
I held him desperately； recklessly。 His eyes； put me beside
myself； his words filled me with a frenzy of despair。
〃Go where you may；〃 I said； 〃I go with you！
FriendsreputationI care nothing who I lose； or what I lose！
Oh； Eustace； I am only a womandon't madden me！ I can't live
without you。 I must and will be your wife！〃
Those wild words were all I could say before the misery and
madness in me forced their way outward in a burst of sobs and
tears。
He yielded。 He soothed me with his charming voice； he brought me
back to myself with his tender caresses。 He called the bright
heaven above us to witness that he devoted his whole life to me。
He vowedoh； in such solemn； such eloquent words！that his one
thought； night and day； should be to prove himself worthy of such
love as mine。 And had he not nobly redeemed the pledge？ Had not
the betrothal of that memorable night been followed by the
betrothal at the altar； by the vows before God！ Ah； what a life
was before me！ What more than mortal happiness was mine！
Again I lifted my head from his bosom to taste the dear delight
of seeing him by my sidemy life； my love； my husband； my own！
Hardly awakened yet from the absorbing memories of the past to
the sweet realities of the present； I let my cheek touch his
cheek； I whispered to him softly； 〃Oh； how I love you！ how I love
you！〃
The next instant I started back from him。 My heart stood still。 I
put my hand up to my face。 What did I feel on my cheek？ （_I_ had
not been weepingI was too happy。） What did I feel on my cheek？
A tear！
His face was still averted from me。 I turned it toward me； with
my own hands； by main force。
I looked at himand saw my husband； on our wedding…day； with his
eyes full of tears。
CHAPTER III。
RAMSGATE SANDS。
EUSTACE succeeded in quieting my alarm。 But I can hardly say
that he succeeded in satisfying my mind as well。
He had been thinking； he told me； of the contrast between his
past and his present life。 Bitter remembrance of the years that
had go