“Is that a question, Mr. Beauclerc, which you have a right to ask me?”
“I have no right—no right, I acknowledge—I am answered.”
He turned away from her, and ran down the bank towards the boat, but returned instantly, and exclaimed, “If you say to me, go! I am gone for ever!”
“Go!” Helen firmly pronounced. “You never can be more than a friend to me! Oh never be less!—go!”
“I am gone,” said he, “you shall never see me more.”
He went, and a few seconds afterwards she heard the splashing of his oars. He was gone! Oh! how she wished that they had parted sooner—a few minutes sooner, even before he had so looked—so spoken!
“Oh! that we had parted while I might have still perfectly esteemed him; but now—!”