I was coming to-night to tell you that I am summoned home." They stopped involuntarily, and their eyes met.

There was an equal trouble in both faces.

Lucia was the first to recover herself; she made a movement to go on, and tried to speak, but felt instantly that her voice could not be trusted.
Mr.Percy's prudence failed utterly.

"I meant to say good-bye" he said, "but it is harder than I thought.

I can't leave you here, after all.
Lucia, you must come with me." He was holding her hand, forcing her to stop and to look at him, and finding in her beautiful, innocent face the sweetest excuse a man could have for such madness.