How is this ?" The consciousness of the injunction so solemnly and recently imposed, distressed her exceedingly.

Her love of truth was like her love of life or of heaven, a sacred and instinctive principle which she must now not only violate, but be forced to run into the hateful practice of dissimulation.

All this passed through her mind in a moment.
"My dear Francis, I will freely admit that the beatings of my heart are not altogether without cause; I have been somewhat disturbed, but it will not signify; I shall be quite well in a moment--but where did you come from ?" "They told me you had gone up to poor Widow Carrick's--and I took the short way, thinking to find you there.

But what has disturbed you, my dear Mary?
Something has, and greatly too." She looked up with an affectionate smile into his face, although there trembled a tear upon her eyelids, as she spoke-- "Do not ask me, my dear Frank; nor don't think the circumstance of much importance.

It is a little secret of mine, which I cannot for the present disclose." "Well, my love, I only ask to know if the woman that left you was Poll Doolin." "I cannot answer even that, Frank; but such as the secret is, I trust you shall soon know it." "That is enough, my darling.