‘But it will be very lonely for me. Life does not seem worth living when you are not near me.’ And then, hardly knowing what he said, he poured out the story of his love. He seized her hands, as they lay idly in her lap, and seemed unconscious of the efforts she made to withdraw them. He gazed into her face, and repeated his words with passionate earnestness, again and again:—‘I love you, Laura; I love you; I love you!’
Laura threw a glance around, to make sure that no one was in sight; and then, slipping her hands away, she covered with them her blushing face. When she looked up, she met Alec’s passionate gaze with a smile.
‘Oh, hush! hush!’ she said. ‘Why do you speak so wildly?’
‘Because I love you.’
‘But we are far too young to think of such things. I don’t mean to get married for—oh! ever such a long time. And you—you have to take your degree, and choose a profession. We will forget all this, and we shall be friends still, just as before.’
‘It can never be just as before,’ said Alec.
‘Why not?’
‘It is impossible. But you won’t refuse me, Laura?’ he pleaded. ‘If you only knew how much I love you! Don’t you love me a little in return? Sometimes I can’t help thinking you do.’
‘Then all I can say is, you have a very strong imagination.’
‘You don’t?’ cried Alec despairingly.