'Oh, Roland!' exclaimed Hester in a breathless voice, while her colour changed, 'can I accept such a gift?'
'From me—your cousin—Hester?' he asked softly but reproachfully, and paused. Beyond the gift he gave no distinct sign as yet, and it flashed on Hester's mind that with the jewels there was no ring. Could that be an omission? Scarcely.
Then, seized by a sudden impulse, he abruptly, yet softly and caressingly, drew her towards him and kissed her more than once. He had often saluted her before at meeting and parting, but always in a cousinly way; but this seemed very different now.
Breathless, dazed apparently, the trembling girl pushed him from her, and he gazed at her with some surprise as she said:
'Why did you do that, Roland? It is cruel—unkind of you,' she added, with trembling fingers essaying, but in vain, to unclasp the necklet.
'Cruel and unkind—between us, Hester?'
'Yes,' she said, blushing deeply, and then growing very pale.
'I forgot myself for a moment, dearest Hester, in my fondness of you.'
She was trembling very much now, and as he took her hands caressingly within his own, her eyes grew full of tears.
'Hester, you know—you know well,' he began, with a voice that indicated deep emotion.