Why, Jerome Edwards, you look as pale as death!" Jerome muttered some unintelligible response, and went out of the room, with his mother staring after him.

He went straight to his own little chamber, and, standing there in the still, icy gloom of the winter twilight, repeated the promise which he had made in summer.
"If you are true to me, Lucina," he said, in a straining whisper--"if you are true to me--but I'll leave it all to you whether you are or not, I'll work till I win you.".