For she had suddenly stretched out her hands to him in impulsive
appeal.

"Oh yes--that's true!--I am badly hurt, Robin!" she said, in low
trembling accents--"So badly hurt that I think I shall never get
over it!"

Surprised, he took her hands in his own with a gentle reverence,
though to be able to draw her nearer to him thus, set his heart
beating quickly.

"What is it?" he questioned her, anxiously, as all unconsciously
she leaned closer towards him and he saw her soft eyes, wet with
tears, shining upon him like stars in the gloom. "Is it bad news
of Uncle Hugo?"

"Bad news of him, but worse of me!" she answered, sighingly. "Oh,
Robin, shall I tell you?"

He looked at her tenderly. The dark cloak about her had fallen a
little aside, and showed a gleam of white neck emerging from snowy
drapery underneath--it was, to his fancy, as though a white rose-
petal had been suddenly and delicately unfurled. He longed to kiss
that virginal whiteness, and trembled at the audacity of his own
desire.

"Yes, dear, tell me!" he murmured, abstractedly, scarcely thinking
of what he was saying, and only conscious of the thrill and
ecstasy of love which seemed to him the one thing necessary for
existence in earth or heaven.