“Even the hot-headed Charley felt a pang for his brother’s sudden pain, and he did not answer.
“‘Does she love you?’ said Ned again, calmly, ‘and have her own lips confessed it?’
“‘I believe that she loves me,’ Charley replied; ‘but she is too modest a maiden to confess it.’
“‘Enough,’ said Ned, as he was about to walk away.
“‘Stay,’ said Charley, fiercely. ‘Though she hath not confessed her love, let me tell you this, brother—dare not cross my path in love, if you do, by my soul, and hope of heaven, one of us two must die.’
“‘How little canst thou read the heart of one who truly loves,’ said Ned, with a smile. ‘Think thou I would wed her if she loved thee, brother. Out upon the thought!’
“And Ned walked away, leaving Charley red with rage.
“Pale with thought, Edward, the elder brother, took a lonely walk in a retired part of the castle grounds, and, while musing on what had happened, he encountered Leoline alone, and they began to converse together like brother and sister.
“‘Let us rest here for a moment, dear Leoline,’ he said; ‘I am sick at heart, and have much to say to you.’
“He spoke these words so solemnly, that the fair girl looked up to him in great surprise.