I will meet you--walk with you--read with you--but only as a brother would with his sister, or a friend with his friend; the thoughts I may nourish, be they of hope or of despair, my tongue shall not give birth to, and therefore I cannot offend; Deborah shall be ever by your side, and her presence shall prevent my even hinting at what might displease you--only do not make a crime to me of those thoughts which are the dearest part of my existence; for believe me it were better and kinder to rob me of existence itself." "This is the mere ecstasy of passion, Julian," answered Alice Bridgenorth; "that which is unpleasant, our selfish and stubborn will represents as impossible.

I have no confidence in the plan you propose--no confidence in your resolution, and less than none in the protection of Deborah.

Till you can renounce, honestly and explicitly, the wishes you have lately expressed, we must be strangers;--and could you renounce them even at this moment, it were better that we should part for a long time; and, for Heaven's sake, let it be as soon as possible--perhaps it is even now too late to prevent some unpleasant accident--I thought I heard a noise." "It was Deborah," answered Julian.

"Be not afraid, Alice; we are secure against surprise." "I know not," said Alice, "what you mean by such security--I have nothing to hide.

I sought not this interview; on the contrary, averted it as long as I could--and am now most desirous to break it off." "And wherefore, Alice, since you say it must be our last?
Why should you shake the sand which is passing so fast?
the very executioner hurries not the prayers of the wretches upon the scaffold .-- And see you not--I will argue as coldly as you can desire--see you not that you are breaking your own word, and recalling the hope which yourself held out to me ?" "What hope have I suggested?
What word have I given, Julian ?" answered Alice.