"In what way, Audley?" asked Sybil, pausing on the upper step, and near the still open window of her room.
"Keep poor Rajah for me; my lady mother won't abide the dog, and I can't take him back all the way to India, as I am perhaps going overland by the desert; and now my beloved girl—dear, dear Sybil—I must leave you, perhaps never to see you again."
A desperate calm seemed to come over Sybil, as she replied,—
"Situated as we are; related as we are, and enemies as my mamma and your parents must ever be, it is indeed better that we should meet no more—yet part as friends."
"As friends—oh, Sybil—as friends!" murmured Audley, becoming more excited as she grew calm.
"Yes—this meeting and parting will form a pleasant memory to look back upon, in years to come, when we are far apart."
Often in after times did these words come back to the heart of Audley Trevelyan.
"And you will always wear my ring?"
"For life—dear cousin Audley—farewell."
She was about to close the casement, her hands trembling and her cheeks ghastly pale, when he urged,—