He answered sadly enough.
"I am always willing to obey you, Jane. Do not speak in that tone."
"Yes, I know that. Forgive me if I am cruel. Alas! You know what agony I hide within my breast." She rose to her feet as she spoke. "Why," she cried, "why did not that fire burn me to death? I should have suffered less than from this flame which devours my heart!"
She leaned her head against the wall, and burst into passionate weeping.
Maslenes, too, had tears in his eyes. It was plain that he cherished a mysterious affection for this beautiful woman, who was tortured by some secret sorrow.
"Jane,—Miss Jane," he corrected himself quickly. "I have never seen you like this before. Some one must have insulted you!"
His eyes flashed as he said this.
"No," murmured Jane. "No, nothing of the kind."
"Then you are over-excited by this accident. Pray, try and control yourself. I know that there are sad thoughts, which you cannot drive from your mind, but you are young; you have the future before you, you will forget the past. You must!"
Jane dried her tears with her lace handkerchief, and her face became suddenly calm.