"Oh, no—no!" she cried. "Farewell, Charles—dear Charles."
"Oh, say that word again!" he exclaimed, with animation. "It is the first time such music has met my ears."
"It must be the last."
"No, no—oh, no."
"For your own sake I shall be able now, Charles, to show you that I really loved you."
"Not by casting me from you?"
"Yes, even so. That will be the way to show you that I love you."
She held up her hands wildly, as she added, in an excited voice,—
"The curse of destiny is upon me! I am singled out as one lost and accursed. Oh, horror—horror! would that I were dead!"
Charles staggered back a pace or two until he came to the table, at which he clutched for support. He turned very pale as he said, in a faint voice,—