ally. I so you so long as you and I live. You so a place I e innocent life. Never fear t I o error—to make you my mistress.  be reasonable, or in trutic.”

    rils dilated; ill I dared to speak.

    “Sir, your  is a fact acknoress: to say otical—is false.”

    “Jane, I am not a gentle-tempered man—you forget t: I am not long-enduring; I am not cool and dispassionate. Out of pity to me and yourself, put your finger on my pulse, feel  throbs, and— beware!”

    , and offered it to me: tressed on all o agitate ance o yield  of tion. I did ively ter extremity— looked for aid to one  involuntarily from my lips.

    “I am a fool!” cried Mr. Rocer suddenly. “I keep telling  married, and do not explain to  ser of t ances attending my infernal union ain Jane  I kno put your —t I may ouc, to prove you are near me—and I e of ten to me

    “Yes, sir; for hours if you will.”

    “I ask only minutes. Jane, did you ever  I  t son of my  I han I?”

    “I remember Mrs. Fairfax told me so once.”

    “And did you ever  my father was an avaricious, grasping man?”

    “I ood someto t effect.”

    “ell, Jane, being so, it o keep ty toget bear tate and leaving me a fair portion: all, o my brot as little could  a son of  be provided for by a  me a partner betimes. Mr. Mason, a est India planter and merc, er a fortune of ty t sufficed.  college, I  out to Jamaica, to espouse a bride already courted for me. My fat  old me Miss Mason  of Spanisoyle of Blancall, dark, and