You told me that it was bad enough to be your ward, that you would not on any account be closer to me.

_That_ should have been clear to me, yet, like an idiot, I hoped against hope.

I took false courage from each smile of yours, each glance, each word.

There! Once I leave you now, the chain between us will be broken, we shall never, with _my_ will, meet again.

You say you have had suitors since you came down here.