"Will you not speak to me, Mark? Can you not, will you not answer?"
The unhappy man shook his head, in a perplexed and irritated manner,
indicating his inability to reply--but concluding with pointing his
finger impatiently to Ralph, who stood up, a surprised and anxious
spectator of the scene. The maiden seemed to comprehend the intimation,
and with an energy and boldness that would not well describe her
accustomed habit--with a hurried step, crossed the apartment to where
stood the youth. Her eye was quick and searching--her words broken, but
with an impetuous flow, indicating the anxiety which, while it accounted
for, sufficiently excused the abruptness of her address, she spoke:--
"Do, sir, say that he had no hand in it--that he is free from the stain
of blood! Speak for him, sir, I pray you; tell me--he will not tell
himself!"
The old lady now sought to interpose, and to apologize for her daughter.
"Why, Kate, Katharine--forgive her, sir; Kate--Katharine, my dear--you
forget.
Pages:
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410