night" to each other, and she said in a quiet tone:

"The men are away now. Is there anything you want before I go to
bed?"

With a sudden access of energy, which contrasted strangely with
his former feebleness, he rose and confronted her.

"No, there's nothing I want!" he said, in vehement tones--"Nothing
but peace and quietness! I've told you your story, and you take it
ill. But recollect, girl, that if you consider any shame has been
put on you, I've put equal shame on myself for your sake--I, Hugo
Jocelyn,--against whom never a word has been said but this,--which
is a lie--that my child, mine!--was born out of wedlock! I
suffered this against myself solely for your sake--I, who never
wronged a woman in my life!--I, who never loved but one woman, who
died before I had the chance to marry her!--and I say and I swear
I have sacrificed something of my name and reputation to you! So
that you need not make trouble because you also share in the
sacrifice. Robin thinks you're my child, and therefore his
cousin,--and he counts nothing against you, for he knows that what
the world would count against you must be my fault and would be my
fault, if the lie I started against myself was true. Marry Robin,
I tell you!--and if you care to make me happy, marry him before I
die. Then you're safe out of all harm's way. If you DON'T marry
him--"

Her breath came and went quickly--she folded her hands across her
bosom, trying to still the loud and rapid beating of her heart,
but her eyes were very bright and steadfast.