He stood as dismayed as she was, and then all at once he felt a feeling of deepest tenderness come over him.
"Miss Nellie," he said, taking her hand, and leading her back to the sofa, "I want to comfort you, but I don't know how. What is the matter? Can you bear to tell me?"
Nellie struggled with her tears, and drew away her hand, which he still held.
"Don't take it away," he pleaded; "I want always to be able to comfort you. Oh, Nellie! What is it?"
"I—I think I will go away," she said in a broken voice. "I am not myself; but don't think me unkind. I will come back and see you presently."
He let go her hand, and she hastened from the room.
She ran up to her own chamber, and, locking the door, put both her hands to her head in a bewildered way.
"It has come at last," she said trembling. "Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?"
She threw herself on her knees, and buried her face in her hands. "He loves me," she whispered; "and I must not—must not—must not let him! Oh, what shall I do?"
Then she lifted her aching heart to Him who knew all its sorrow; and once more strengthened in her resolve, she got up, and bathing her swollen eyes, she went slowly downstairs again.