"I must hear it first," said Louise.
"Col. Malcome is walking on the piazza; he wishes to see you."
"Go and tell him, in another and a darker world I'll see him; never again in this," answered Louise, starting to her feet, her whole frame trembling with excitement and anger.
Mrs. Stanhope was astonished and alarmed at her appearance, and stood gazing on her in wondering silence. At length she said, "I cannot take a message like that to him; he would think it the wild raving of a lunatic."
"Tell him, then, to go away, and never approach these doors again," said Louise, suddenly bursting into tears. Mrs. Stanhope lingered in surprise at her friend's emotion, and strove to soothe it.
"Go," said Louise; "I command you to go, and send him away. I shall die if I hear another of his footfalls on the piazza."
Alarmed by the dreadful energy of her manner, Mrs. Stanhope hurried away. The colonel came eagerly to her side, as she stepped forth.
"Does she refuse me?" he asked.
"She does," said Mrs. Stanhope.
"And does she give no encouragement that I may gain admittance at some future time?"