"O divine ether, and swift-winged winds----"

She interrupted herself with a petulant movement.

"Folly!" she murmured, pushing the book aside. "Even glorious, great
thoughts like those don't satisfy me. Whoever supposed they would?
What was I given a heart for? Why does it beat so fiercely, and long,
and love? and why is it wrong-- wrong of me to love? Oh, Annabel Lee!
oh, darling! if only your wretched Maggie Oliphant had never known
you!"

Maggie dashed some heavy tears from her eyes. Then, taking up her pen,
she began to write.

"HEATH HALL,

"ST. BENET'S.

"DEAR MR. HAMMMOND: I should prefer that you did not in future give
letters for me to any of my friends here. I do not wish to receive
them through the medium of any of my fellow-students. Please
understand this. When you have anything to say to me, you can write
in the ordinary course of post. I am not ashamed of any slight
correspondence we may have together; but I refuse to countenance,
or to be in any sense a party to, what may even seem underhand.

"I shall try to be at the Marshalls' on Sunday afternoon, but I
have nothing to say in reply to your letter. My views are
unalterable.