"Oh no," cried I gaspingly, "not yet, not yet."

"Miss Reef," he demanded solemnly, "why will you delay? I understand what
you would say; you desire to see Richard again, but that can never be;
you have looked your last upon him in this life. I know his magnetic
influence over you; once again under that influence you are lost!"

I did not like what he said. He overstepped the bounds of courtesy, I
thought. The warning which Richard had given me against him revived in
force and I recoiled from him, saying:

"Sir, your brother is my friend; I can listen to nothing in his
disfavor."

He sighed, "Ah, Agnes, you are but a child. The sun just rising above
yonder horizon must soon be darkened; I see the gathering cloud and would
warn you of the approaching storm. Why will you turn from me when I
desire to help you?"

His musical voice was so sympathetic that it moved me deeply; but I shook
my head and answered passionately, "I cannot trust you. You wrong him,
and would compel me to wrong him too."

"My child," said he sadly, "I had hoped to have saved you from further
anguish, but perhaps it is best that you should know all. Come with me."

He opened the door and led me to a room on the opposite side of the hall.
I knew it to be the room where Herbert slept.