The Haunted Chamber

e is no anger in it; there is indeed only a desire to sho

hout it?" Florence asks, disdaining to notice his words, or to betray i

heart," he responds

he very insolence of her air only gives an additio

to begin?" he a

ou wi

ou wi

ly than to get this rehearsal

to hide your scorn of me

Florence, with averted eyes and with increasing coldness. "Yet I must alwa

to love you?" h

"I must request you will never speak to me of love. There is neither sympathy nor c

iously received by you, are met with smiles and kindly words. Upon me alone your eyes rest, when they deign to glance in my d

ehearse our parts for next Tuesday evening, not to listen to any insolent words you ma

you madly, hopelessly. Your very cruelty only se

attentions-attentions most hateful to me-for the past year, but you must now obtrude them upon me here? You compel me to tell you in plain words what my mann

r with a face distorted by passion, "if I were the master here, instead of the

dies out of her face and she grows deadly pa

rstand you," s

your proud heart to my cousin, that he has conquered where other men have failed; that, even before

If this man has read her heart aright, may not all the guests have read it too? May not even Adri

n honorable love for one that lives only in your imagination, I will tell you that Sir Adrian has other views, ot

m her momentary weakness, and speaking with all her

y. So standing, with her eyes strangely bright, and her perfect figure d

s upon her, suddenly flings himself at her feet

us! Why is Adrian to have all, and I nothing? He has title, lands, position-above and beyond everythin

at they fail to hear the sou

r," cries Flore

uestion," entreats Dynecour

ence distinctly, and in a somewhat raised ton

emphatic tone, start and glance at the tableau presented to their view lower down. They hesitate, and, even as they

ich the two who have just entered turn and beat a precipitate retreat,

confusion, "who would have thought i

as though unable or unwilling to comprehend them. "I care nothing for Sir Adrian!" They strike like a knell upon his ears-a death-knell to all his dearest hopes. A

t up," Dora goes on, looking u

hey were more than ordinary

n name, a thing she has never done before, because she knows it will give Sir Adrian the impression that they are on ver

y to form wrong impressions. I firmly believed, seeing Miss Delmaine and A

I adore her; but I will confess to you"-with another upward and bewitching glance from the charming blue eyes-"that she has her little tempers. Not very naughty ones, you know"-s

Sir Adrian breaks off with

ittle episode, was it not?-I can not help cherishing the hope that all is again right between them. It could not

unny smile and gentle manner. But then, is it not her dearest friend who is speaking of her-tender-hearted little Dora Talbot, who seems to think we

t between Arthur and Miss Delmaine?" he b

once more friendly with poor Arthur; he is positively wrapped up in her. Now, has that interesting tablea

as you

t to venture again into the one we have just quitted.

his eyes of Florence in her lover's arms. "What you have just told me has quite taken me by surprise,"

Yes, really; you wouldn't think it, would you? The dear girl has such a sweet ingenuous face-quite the loveliest face on earth, I think, though some pronounce it too cold. But she

rees Sir Adrian, wit

ivate audience, when she believed we were all safely out of the

the hills," says Sir Adrian, making a feeble eff

ou to make a party to go there, as I dote on lovely scenery; and I dare say"-coquettishly-"she knew-I mean though

Adrian, feeling that the

been a feigned one. Ah, slyboots that she is!" laughs Mrs. Talbot merrily. "Of course, she wanted the course clear to have an expl

fend me from my friends." The words return to him persistently; but then he looks down on Dora Talbot, and stares straight into her liquid blue eyes, so apparently guileless and pure, and t