“Do you need to ask me that question?” Paul Tressalia, returned, reproachfully, his face suddenly paling now. “I must always love her.”
“Then go and win her if you can; the way is open; there is nothing to hinder you,” Earle said, wiping the cold sweat from his face.
His cousin looked at him in blank astonishment, wondering if he was losing his mind that he should make such a statement as that, or if it was some lover’s quarrel that had driven Earle home in such despair.
Earle, without waiting for a reply, proceeded to relate to him the story of Editha’s relationship to himself.
“It is killing me,” he said, when he had finished. “I rebel every day against the cruel fate that has separated us, for I love her only as a man can love the woman who should be his wife, and shall love her thus until I die. You love her, also; and perhaps, if you can win her, you both may yet know much of domestic peace. If I cannot conquer my sinful heart I may die, and you will then regain what you have lost, while Editha will, after all, be mistress of Wycliffe.”
“Earle, do not speak thus,” Mr. Tressalia said, with deep emotion, for the wild bitterness and misery of his cousin grieved him. “I was glad to relinquish Wycliffe to you when I knew that it rightly belonged to you. I do not covet it, and I would not have matters in this respect other than as they are. I hope, too, that you may live to see a lusty heir growing up to take it after you. But this is a strange story you have told me—Editha your half-sister! Mr. Dalton your father!”
“Yes, it is even so, though I would gladly give every acre of my inheritance to have it proved otherwise.”
“You must resemble your mother’s family alone, then, and she her mother, for there is not a single point of resemblance between you to testify to any such relationship.”
“I do not know as to that. I only know that the facts exist to prove it,” Earle said, dejectedly.
“Poor child! she loved you so devotedly, she was so proud of you, and she must have suffered also. I would that I could give you both back your lost happiness. Is it not strange that only out of the ruin of either your hopes or mine happiness can come to either of us?” Mr. Tressalia said, regretfully.