"What time do you require?" he asked. "I shall not be willing to wait very long."
"It is June now," she continued; "you cannot complain if I say give me until the end of August."
"It shall be so, Dora. Will you give me your hand upon it?"
"No," she replied, "I will not give you my hand. Come at the end of August, and I will give you your answer."
"I shall not be deprived of the happiness of seeing you until then, Dora?"
"I cannot say; I will not be followed, I will not be watched. I claim my perfect freedom until then."
"You shall have it. Do not think worse of me than I deserve, Dora. If I had found you married, I would not have spoken, I would never even have hinted at the discovery; but you are not married, darling, nor, while I live, shall any man call you wife except myself."
How bitterly at that moment she regretted not having been married! If she had known—if she had only known, he should have found her the wife of Earle!
"I have no wish to injure you, or to do anything except make life pleasant for you; but my love for you has mastered me, it has conquered me. You must be mine!"
Such passion shone in his eyes, gleamed in his face, that she shrunk back half frightened. He laughed, as he said: