The thought that he was seeing her for the last time--Ah, this was the price of all his folly! At length he spoke.
"I came to-night to say good-by, Elizabeth!" She glanced up, startled.
"To say good-by ?" she repeated.
He nodded gloomily.
"Do you mean that you are going to leave Mount Hope ?" she asked slowly.
"Yes, to-night maybe." Her glance no longer met his, but he was conscious that she had lost something of her serenity.
"Are you sorry, Elizabeth ?" he ventured.
To pass mutely out of her life had suddenly seemed an impossibility, and his tenderness and yearning trembled in his voice.

She answered obliquely, by asking: "Must you go ?" "I want to get away from Mount Hope.

I want to leave it all,--all but you, dear!" he said.

"You haven't answered me, Elizabeth; will you care ?" "I am sorry," she said slowly, and the light in her gray-blue eyes darkened.
She heard the sigh that wasted itself on his lips.
"I am glad you can say that,--I wish you would look up!" he said wistfully.
"Are you going to-night ?" she questioned.
"Yes, but I am coming back.

I shan't find that you have forgotten me when I come, shall I, Elizabeth ?" She looked up quickly into his troubled face, and it was not the warm firelight that brought the rich color in a sudden flame to her cheeks.
"I shall not forget you." There was a determined gentleness in her speech and manner that gave him courage.
"I haven't any right to talk to you in this way; I know I haven't, but--Oh, I want you, Elizabeth!" And all at once he was on his knees beside her, his arms about her.