Why should your father be so sure of it?'
'He never was sure of it.'
'Yes, Silverbridge, yes. There is not one in the house who does
not see that he treats me as though he expected me to be his son's
wife. Do you not know that he wishes it?' He fain would not have
answered this; but she paused for his answer and then repeated her
question. 'Do you not know that he wishes it?'
'I think he does,' said Silverbridge; 'but it can never be so.'
'Oh, Silverbridge;--oh my loved one. Do not say that to me! Do not
kill me at once!' Now she placed her hands one on each arm as she
stood opposite to him and looked up into his face. 'You said that
you loved me once. Why do you desert me now? Have you a right to
treat me like that;--when I tell you that you have all my heart?'
The tears were now streaming down her face, and they were not
counterfeit tears.
'You know,' he said, submitting to her hands, but not lifting his
arm to embrace her.
'What do I know?'
'That I have given all I have to another.' As he said this he
looked away sternly, over her shoulder, to the distance.
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