'I had no right to listen to you,' said Mary. 'I did not mean to do so, but I—I'—her voice sank into a whisper—'I wanted to know——'
'To know that I loved you! Ah, you have known all along.'
'Yes,' said Mary, 'but I wanted—I wanted to hear you say so yourself.'
Rob's arms went over her like a hoop.
'Rob, dear,' she whispered, 'you must go away, and never see me any more.'
'I won't,' cried Rob; 'you are to be my wife. He shall not part us.'
'It can never be,' said Mary.
'I shall see him—I shall compel him to consent.'
Mary shook her head.
'You don't want to marry me,' Rob said fiercely, drawing back from her. 'You do not care for me. What made you say you did?'