'Well, what is it?'

The familiarity of the words struck her, and she saw by the kindling
tenderness in his eyes that they had given him pleasure. She almost knew he
was going to tell her that he loved her. He looked towards the open door,
and, guessing his intention, she said--

'Don't shut it! Speak quickly. Remember that she may pass at any moment.
Were she to find us together, she would suffer; it would be tears and
reproaches. What you have to say to me is about her?'

'Of course; we never speak of anything else. But we must not be overheard.
I must shut the door.' She noticed a certain embarrassment in his manner.
Suddenly relinquishing his intention to take her hands, he said--

'This cannot go on; our lives are being made unbearable. You agree with
me--do you not?'

'Yes,' she said, with a curious inquiring look in her eyes. 'You had better
let me leave. It is the only way out of the difficulty.'

'You know very well, Julia, that that is impossible.'

It was the first time he had used her Christian name, and she knew now he
was going to ask her to marry him. A frightened look passed into her face;
she turned from him; he took her hands.

'No, Julia,' he said; 'there is another and better way out of the
difficulty. You will stop here--you will be my wife?' Reading the look of
pain that had come into her eyes, he said, 'You will not refuse me? I want