"O, Roddy, you cannot tell, and you will never know how wretched I am, but it is some comfort that I can speak to you at least once more."
"At least once more!" These words quivered through him, chilling him from head to foot.
"Pauline, I entreat you, explain the meaning of all this," he exclaimed.
"It means, Roddy, that I who have never disobeyed my father, in my life, have had the weakness to disobey him this evening. I did not mean to do it. I did it unconsciously."
"Disobeyed your father?"
"Yes, in seeing you again."
"Surely, you do not mean—?"
"Alas! dearest, I mean that my father has forbidden me ever to meet you."
Roderick was so astonished that he staggered, and the power of utterance for a moment was denied him. At last he whispered falteringly:
"Really, there must be some mistake, Pauline."