her eyes fixed upon him with a look of such deep and devoted passion as
utterly overcame him. Her eyes, as before, were immediately withdrawn,
but there dwelt again upon her burning cheek such a consciousness of her
love as could not, for a moment, be mistaken. In fact she betrayed all
the confused symptoms of one who felt that the state of her heart had
been discovered. Osborne ceased playing; for such was his agitation that
he scarcely knew what he thought or did.

"I cannot go on," said he in a voice which equally betrayed the state
of his heart; "I cannot play;" and at the same time he seated himself
beside her.

Jane rose as he spoke, and in a broken voice, full of an expression like
distress, said hastily:

"It is time I should go;--I am,--I am too long out."

Osborne caught her hand, and in words that burned with the deep and
melting contagion of his passion, said simply:

"Do not go:--oh do not yet go!"

She looked full upon him, and perceived that as he spoke his face became
deadly pale, as if her words were to seal his happiness or misery.

"Oh do not leave me now," he pleaded; "do not go, and my life may yet be
happy."

"I must," she replied, with great difficulty; "I cannot stay; I do not
wish you to be unhappy;" and whilst saying this, the tears that ran in