At last, my darling, I have got you to myself! You know that I love you.

Why can't I look into your heart, and see what secrets it is keeping from me?
I try to hope; but I want some little encouragement.

Carmina! shall I ever hear you say that you love me ?" She trembled, and turned away her head.

Her own words to the governess were in her mind; her own conviction of the want of all sympathy between his mother and herself made her shrink from answering him.
"I understand your silence." With those words he dropped her hand, and looked at her no more.
It was sadly, not bitterly spoken.

She attempted to find excuses; she showed but too plainly how she pitied him.