"India!" she repeated, as her great eyes were fixed in agony upon him; and then she stopped, pressing her hand to her heart.
The anguish of that look was so intense that Lord Chetwynde was shaken to the soul. He caught her hand in his, scarce knowing what he did.
"Oh, Miss Lorton," he cried, "do not look so at me. I am in despair; I am heart-broken; I dare not look at the future; but the future is not immediate; I can yet wait a few weeks; and you will still come here, will you not--to see me?"
Zillah caught her hand away, and her eyes fell. Tears dropped from beneath her heavy lashes. But she said not a word.
"At any rate, tell me this," cried Lord Chetwynde, "when I am gone, Miss Lorton, you will not forget me? Tell me this."
Zillah looked at him with her large, spiritual eyes, whose fire seemed now to bum into his soul, and her lips moved:
"Never!"
That was the only word that she said.
CHAPTER LXIV.
THE MASQUERADE.