“I have but one duty,” said she at last, in a faint whisper.
“Might I not share it with you, Mary?” said he, again taking her hand between his own; “you would not grudge me some part of his affection?”
“Who crossed the window there?” cried she, starting; “did you not see a figure pass?”
“No, I saw no one,—I thought of none, save you.”
“I am too much frightened to speak. I saw someone stop before the window and make a gesture, as if threatening,—I saw it in the glass.”
Cashel immediately hurried from the room, and, passing out, searched through the shrubberies on either side of the cottage, but without success. On examining closely, however, he could detect the trace of recent footsteps on the wet grass, but lost the direction on the gravel-walk; and it was in a frame of mind far from tranquil that be reentered the room.
“You saw no one?” said she, eagerly.
“Not one.”