"You needn't take me seriously--unless you wish." She turned a face of piteous entreaty towards him.

She was trembling uncontrollably.

"Oh, please, Lord Wyverton," she said, earnestly, "please, don't ask me! Don't ask me! I--I felt so sure you wouldn't." "Did you ?" he said.

"Why ?" He looked at her with grave interest.

He was a straight, well-made man; but his kindest friends could not have called him anything but ugly, and there were a good many who thought him formidable also.