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He loved the girl after his own fashion; but to save himself he was willing to sacrifice her. Poor Bernadine! Had she but known all! "I should think your own common sense would tell you. Surely you must have guessed what I am so eager to say, Miss Bernardine?" Jasper Wilde began, taking little heed of her father. The girl's white lips opened, but no sound came from them.
While the preparations for the marriage which poor, hapless Bernardine looked forward to with so much fear went steadily on, preparations for another wedding, in which Jay Gardiner was to be the unwilling bridegroom, progressed quite as rapidly.
As the hours dragged by, Bernardine had made up her mind what to do. The little clock on the mantel chimed the midnight hour as she arose from her low seat by the window, and putting on her hat, she glided from the wretched rooms that had been home to her all her dreary life. Owing to the lateness of the hour, she encountered few people on the streets.
Do you think I am unkind?" So they parted. Mrs. Reffold had spoken no word of affection to Bernardine, but at the, station, as she bent down to kiss her, she whispered: "I know you will not think too hardly of me. Still, will you promise me? And if you are ever in trouble, and I can help you, will you write to me?" And Bernardine promised.
The Chamberlain took his place at the head; this honour befitted him from his age and his office; advancing to it he bowed to the ladies, the old men, and the young men. The Collector of Alms was not at the table; the Chamberlain’s wife occupied the place of the Bernardine, on her husband’s right. The Judge, when he had stationed the guests as was fitting, pronounced a Latin grace.
One of the grooms came running forward, and Bernardine saw that he was greatly excited. "The maids missed you, and feared something had happened to you, Miss Moore," he said; "but we were all so alarmed about young master, it caused us to forget everything else, we all love Master Jay so well."
"No matter whatever else Bernardine might do, she would never think of taking her life into her own hands, I assure you." But the old basket-maker was not so sure of that. He had a strange presentiment of coming evil which he could not shake off. Each evening, according to his declared intention, Jasper Wilde presented himself at David Moore's door.
The Monk could hardly breathe for excitement, when the Judge caught the beginning of the story, and was so interested in it that with head thrown back and card uplifted, ready to take the trick, he sat quiet and only alarmed the Bernardine, until, when the story was ended, he played his knave, and said with a laugh:—
As for Bernardine, she had to look at Robert Allitsen several times to be sure that he was the same Robert Allitsen she had known two hours ago in Petershof. But she made no remark, and showed no surprise, but met his merriness half way. No one could be a cheerier companion than herself when she chose. At last they arrived at Loschwitz.
Then he remembered that the girl was dying; that every instant of time was precious if he would save her. He worked over her as though his life were at stake, and his efforts were rewarded at last when the dark eyes opened languidly. "Bernardine," he cried, kneeling beside her on the pier, his voice husky with emotion, "why did you do this terrible deed? Speak, my love, my darling!"
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