"
"I shall marry too," she answered, gravely. "I ought to have done so
long ago. Perhaps I shall make up my mind soon. Evil examples are so
contagious."
"And who will draw the great prize?"
"I have not the faintest idea. I suppose some fine old English
gentleman, who has a great estate."
"I only hope the said estate will be near Kerton," Livingstone
suggested; and he drew closer to his companion.
"Ah! dear old Kerton," she said, sighing again, "I shall never go there
any more."
"The reason?"
"Perhaps because my husband, whoever he may be, will not choose to bring
me."
"Absurd!" Guy retorted, biting his lip hard. "As if that individual
would have any will of his own. You want to provoke me, I see."
The answer came in so low a whisper that, though he bent his ear down,
he had almost to guess at the words.
"No, I have never tried to do that, even during the last three months. I
am not brave enough. Perhaps I should not come, because--I could not
bear it."
They were silent. She was so near him now that her quick breath stirred
his hair, and he could feel the pulse of her heart beating against his
own side. The fiery Livingstone blood, heated seven-fold by wine and
passion, was surging through his veins like molten iron.
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