"But I'd rather stay at home--I do not wish to go," she said.

"I say you _must_. So tell Miss Lawrie you will," he answered, and his
eyes flashed almost savagely upon her.

Rosamond waited for no more. She had discovered the impediment to his
marrying. It was _hereditary insanity_, and she had seen the first
signs of it in him herself! Magnanimously resolving never to tell a
human being, nor let him be chained if she could help it, however
furious he might become, she went down to Miss Lawrie, telling her she
would go.

One week from that day was fixed upon for their departure, and during
that time Rosamond was too much absorbed in dresses and finery to pay
much heed to Mr. Browning. Of one thing she was sure, though--he was
_crazy_; for what else made him stalk up and down the gravel-walk, his
head bent forward, and his hands behind him, as if intently thinking.
Once, when she saw him thus, she longed to go out to him, to tell him
she knew his secret, and that she would never leave him, however
unmanageable he should become! But his manner toward her now was so
strange that she dared not, and she was almost as glad as himself when
at last the morning came for her to go.

"Promise me one thing," he said, as they stood together a moment
alone. "Don't write until you hear from me, and don't come home until
I send for you."

"And suppose the Lawries come, what then?" she asked, and he replied,
"No matter; stay until I write. Here are five hundred dollars in case