Herbert appeared to have forgotten his purpose. Not a word was said about Cubina or the site of his dwelling. Not a word of the Happy Valley, or the unpleasant recollections it was calculated to call up. All the past appeared to be forgotten, except that one sweet scene; and on this were concentrated the thoughts of both—their words as well.
“And you loved me then?” inquired he, only to enjoy the luxury of an affirmative answer. “You loved me then?”
“Oh, Herbert! how could I help loving you? Your eyes were so beautiful then!”
“What! Are they not so now?”
“How cruel to ask the question! Ah! far more beautiful now! Then I beheld them only with anticipation; now I look into them with the consciousness of possession. That moment was pleasure—this is ecstasy!”
The last word was perfectly appropriate—not a shade too strong to express the mutual feeling that existed between Herbert Vaughan and his cousin-wife. As their rounded arms became entwined, and their young bosoms pressed fondly together, both believed that even in this unhappy world ecstasy may exist.
The End.
| [Volume 1 Chapter 1] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 2] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 3] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 4] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 5] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 6] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 7] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 8] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 9] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 10] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 11] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 12] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 13] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 14] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 15] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 16] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 17] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 18] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 19] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 20] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 21] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 22] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 23] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 24] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 25] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 26] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 27] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 28] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 29] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 30] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 31] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 32] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 33] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 34] | | [Volume 1 Chapter 35] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 1] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 2] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 3] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 4] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 5] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 6] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 7] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 8] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 9] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 10] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 11] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 12] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 13] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 14] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 15] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 16] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 17] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 18] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 19] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 20] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 21] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 22] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 23] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 24] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 25] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 26] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 27] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 28] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 29] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 30] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 31] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 32] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 33] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 34] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 35] | | [Volume 2 Chapter 36] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 1] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 2] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 3] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 4] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 5] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 6] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 7] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 8] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 9] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 10] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 11] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 12] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 13] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 14] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 15] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 16] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 17] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 18] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 19] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 20] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 21] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 22] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 23] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 24] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 25] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 26] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 27] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 28] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 29] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 30] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 31] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 32] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 33] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 34] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 35] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 36] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 37] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 38] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 39] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 40] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 41] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 42] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 43] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 44] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 45] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 46] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 47] | | [Volume 3 Chapter 48] |