Now, I raised her hand to my lips, and fervently kissed it again and again; for tears prevented any other reply.
She suffered these wild caresses without resistance or resentment; then, suddenly turning from me, she paced twice or thrice through the room.

I knew by the contraction of her brow, the tight compression of her lips, and wringing of her hands, that meantime a violent conflict between reason and passion was silently passing within.

At length she paused before the empty fire-place, and turning to me, said calmly--if that might be called calmness which was so evidently the result of a violent effort,--'Now, Gilbert, you must leave me--not this moment, but soon--and you must never come again.' 'Never again, Helen?
just when I love you more than ever.' 'For that very reason, if it be so, we should not meet again.

I thought this interview was necessary--at least, I persuaded myself it was so--that we might severally ask and receive each other's pardon for the past; but there can be no excuse for another.

I shall leave this place, as soon as I have means to seek another asylum; but our intercourse must end here.' 'End here!' echoed I; and approaching the high, carved chimney-piece, I leant my hand against its heavy mouldings, and dropped my forehead upon it in silent, sullen despondency.
'You must not come again,' continued she.