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"I saw that he was frank and winning, and hated him the more. "'Upon my word, he added, 'there was none whom I had resolved in my mind to love so well, for the sake of Heraine. "A cry escaped me, so bitter that it seemed a howl, and I clenched my hands. "He still followed me along the very edge of the cliff, extending his hand.
But it was my highest rapture to sit in stillness for hours while Heraine, cushioned at my feet, made cunning embroideries, like some facile poet whose fingers were dropping rhymes. "I remarked that our conversations were progressive. My companion led me gradually into forbidden themes, as if to strengthen and embolden me.
There was one correspondent whose missives were never read to me a fine, bold hand, which at length became familiar. Their receipt pleased her, I thought, and once I ventured to say, "'Heraine, you have a pleasant letter there. "She only blushed very much, and all her quietness was gone for a moment. "As the months expanded into years, a new feeling engendered from our intimacy.
Her conditions were harder than death; but the hope she had spoken was like a glimpse of Heaven, and I answered, "'Heraine, I will do it! "In a month I set out for my travels. An easy coach conveyed me to London, and the third day I lay sick in Paris.
"'This is indeed terrible, said the soft voice compassionately; 'but do not despair. It cannot be nature. It must be habit, or bashfulness, or the effect of some childish and forgotten fright. Cheer up, and hope!" "'Be kind to him, Heraine, resumed the other; 'you are my last resort, and becoming his companion you become my child. Do not vex, do not excite him.
"'Oh, Luke! she replied, 'let us not uncover the past. I have buried your sin with its victim, and watched you through weary months, and prayed God to pardon you. "'Can God pardon your sin to me, Heraine? "'I trust so, Luke, she said feebly, 'if ever in my life I treasured you a hard thought or did you any injury.
Crime had changed both our natures; she had been tutor and governess before, and I the passive, submissive creature; but sin had made me bold, and sorrow worn her to a woman. "'Luke, she said, in the same lullaby tone, 'do you know me? do you recognize the place? are you still weak? "'Heraine, said I, sternly, 'do not the wrongs we have done each other forbid this intimacy?
I did not comprehend it at first. It crept upon me like the unfolding of a new sense, or the gradual realizing of the earliest profound thought. An unexpected event gave it recognition. "The boldly-indorsed letters came twice a month at first, afterward four times, and finally twice, thrice, and even five times a week. Heraine was quick and flushed.
My hair was shaven close to my skull; my head ached dismally; I moved my hand with an effort, and my eyelids were so weak that I could not unseal them for a time. "I was lying in my old chamber at Glengoyle, and Heraine was sitting at my bedside.
She had followed my invalid wanderings, to be near me in want and prostration. I could have knelt in the aisle of the dim woods, with God's choir of waters pealing before me, to weep my gratitude. But as the figure of Heraine disappeared above, those other abhorred footfalls rang keenly below. Deep, rapid, and elastic, they were sonorously defined above the clash of the cataract.
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