don't say THAT!" He did not speak; and suddenly, looking at
his fixed face, she cried out, violently: "Oh, why, why did
I go up to the graveyard that day? Why did you let me?"
She stared at him, her forget-me-not eyes dilating with dismay.
"It all came from that. If we hadn't walked up the hill
that morning--" He was speechless. Then, abruptly, she sprang
to her feet, and, running to him, knelt beside him and
tried to pull down the hands in which he had again hidden
his face. "Lewis, it's I--Tay! You don't 'feel kindly'
to ME? Lewis, you haven't stopped loving me?"

"I am a Shaker," he said, helplessly. "I can't give up my religion,
even for you."

He got on his feet and stood before her, his empty palms hanging at his
sides in that strange gesture of entire hopelessness; he tried to speak,
but no words came. The lamp on the table flickered a little.
Their shadows loomed gigantic on the wall behind them; the little hot
room was very still.

"You think you don't love me?" Athalia said, between set teeth;
"_I know better!_" With a laugh she caught his arm with both
her shaking hands, and kissed him once, and then again.
Still he was silent. Then with a cry she threw herself against
his breast. "I love you," she said, passionately, "and you love me!
Nothing on earth will make me believe you don't love me,"--
and for one vital moment her lips burned against his.

His arms did not close about her,--but his hands clinched slightly.
Then he moved back a step or two, and she heard him sigh.