If I have been a blind fool, it is no fault of yours, and I have no one to thank but myself for the misery that has come upon me.

Elizabeth"-- oh, how sad his voice was! it thrilled her to hear it--"before I leave you, let me wish you every happiness--you and Mr.Carlyon too;" and then he rose to his feet.
"Must you go ?" she pleaded.
"Yes, I must go," he returned hurriedly; "will you excuse me to your sister ?" Then Elizabeth stretched out her hand to him in silence, and he saw that she could not trust herself to speak.
"You must not be too sorry for me," he said rather brokenly; "I am not the only man who has been denied his heart's desire;" and he turned away and plunged into the little fir wood.

Elizabeth sat listening to his retreating footsteps.

The tears were running down her cheeks.

She was still weeping when Dinah rejoined her.
"Have I been long ?" she observed cheerfully.