Her lip quivered, and his heart smote him as he observed her wounded expression. She was silent, still resting her drooped head on her folded hands.
"Regina, I am waiting to hear you."
"It is useless. You would refuse me."
"Probably I should; yet I prefer that you should express your wishes, and afford me an opportunity of judging of their propriety."
She sighed and shook her head.
"I shall not permit such childish trifling. Tell me at once what you wish me to do."
"Will you be so kind as to lend me twenty-five dollars, until I receive my remittance?"
His eyes fell beneath her timidly pleading gaze, and a deep flush of embarrassment passed over his face.
"That depends upon the use you intend to make of it. If you desire to run away from me, I am afraid you must borrow of some one else. Do you wish to pay your passage to Europe?"
"Oh no! I wish that I could. You allow me no such comforting hope."