“No, as Heaven is my judge, I do not.”

“Gracious Heaven, then, what do they mean?”

Flora shuddered, and Henry, coming up to her, took her hand in his tenderly, as he said,—­

“Has it been again?”

“It has.”

“You shot it?”

“I fired full upon it, Henry, but it fled.”

“It did—­fly?”

“It did, Henry, but it will come again—­it will be sure to come again.”

“You—­you hit it with the bullet?” interposed Mr. Marchdale.  “Perhaps you killed it?”

“I think I must have hit it, unless I am mad.”

Charles Holland looked from one to the other with such a look of intense surprise, that George remarked it, and said at once to him,—­

“Mr. Holland, a full explanation is due to you, and you shall have it.”

“You seem the only rational person here,” said Charles.  “Pray what is it that everybody calls ‘it?’”

“Hush—­hush!” said Henry; “you shall hear soon, but not at present.”

“Hear me, Charles,” said Flora.  “From this moment mind, I do release you from every vow, from every promise made to me of constancy and love; and if you are wise, Charles, and will be advised, you will now this moment leave this house never to return to it.”

“No,” said Charles—­“no; by Heaven I love you, Flora!  I have come to say again all that in another clime I said with joy to you.  When I forget you, let what trouble may oppress you, may God forget me, and my own right hand forget to do me honest service.”

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“Oh! no more—­no more!” sobbed Flora.

“Yes, much more, if you will tell me of words which shall be stronger than others in which to paint my love, my faith, and my constancy.”

“Be prudent,” said Henry.  “Say no more.”

“Nay, upon such a theme I could speak for ever.  You may cast me off, Flora; but until you tell me you love another, I am yours till the death, and then with a sanguine hope at my heart that we shall meet again, never, dearest, to part.”

Flora sobbed bitterly.

“Oh!” she said, “this is the unkindest blow of all—­this is worse than all.”

“Unkind!” echoed Holland.

“Heed her not,” said Henry; “she means not you.”

“Oh, no—­no!” she cried.  “Farewell, Charles—­dear Charles.”

“Oh, say that word again!” he exclaimed, with animation.  “It is the first time such music has met my ears.”

“It must be the last.”

“No, no—­oh, no.”

“For your own sake I shall be able now, Charles, to show you that I really loved you.”

“Not by casting me from you?”

“Yes, even so.  That will be the way to show you that I love you.”

She held up her hands wildly, as she added, in an excited voice,—­

“The curse of destiny is upon me!  I am singled out as one lost and accursed.  Oh, horror—­horror! would that I were dead!”