Perhaps you will favour me by stating your motives ?" "I don't understand you, sir." "Oh, yes--you do!" She stepped back, and laid her hand on the bell which rang below stairs, in the pantry.

"Must I ring ?" she said.
It was plain that she would do it, if he moved a step nearer to her.
He drew aside--with a look which made her tremble.

On passing the hall table, she placed her letter in the post-basket.

His eye followed it, as it left her hand: he became suddenly penitent and polite.

"I am sorry if I have alarmed you," he said, and opened the house-door for her--without showing himself to Marceline and the coachman outside.
The carriage having been driven away, he softly closed the door again, and returned to the hall-table.