"Oh, William, if you will only sanction it! I shall go about it then
with the lightest heart!"

He looked at her with an expression she did not understand, and shook
his head. Constance thought it a negative shake, and her hopes fell
again. "You did not answer my question," said Mr. Yorke. "What if I
forbid it?"

"But it seems to be my duty," she urged from between her pale and
parted lips.

"Constance, that is no answer."

"Oh, do not, do not! William, do not you throw this temptation in my
way--that of choosing between yourself and a plain duty that lies
before me."

"The temptation, as you call it, must be for a later consideration. Why
will you not answer me? What would be your course if I forbade it?"

"I do not know. But, Oh, William, if you gave me up--"

She could not continue. She turned away to hide her face from Mr.
Yorke. He followed and obtained forcible view of it. It was wet with
tears.

"Nay, but I did not mean to carry it so far as to cause you real grief,
my dearest," he said, in a changed tone. "Though you brought it on
yourself," he added, laughing, as he bent his face down.