"She is my cousin, mademoiselle."
"What does that matter? I know much more than you do, though I have only
seen her two days. I know that--well, I am afraid of her!"
"Afraid of her? Did you come out--may I ask--determined to talk
nonsense?"
"I came out--never mind! I
am afraid of her. She hates me. I
think"--he felt a shiver in the air--will do me harm if she can."
"No one shall do you harm," said Ashe, his tone changing, "if you will
only trust yourself--"
She laughed merrily.
"To you? Oh! you'd soon throw it up."
"Try me!" he said, approaching her. "Lady Kitty, I have something to say
to you."
Suddenly she shrank away from him. He could not see her face, and had
nothing to guide him.
"I haven't yet known you three weeks," he said, over-mastered by
something passionate and profound. "I don't know what you will
say--whether you can put up with me. But I know my own mind--I shall not
change. I--I love you. I ask you to marry me."
A silence. The night seemed to have grown darker. Then a small hand
seized his, and two soft lips pressed themselves upon it. He tried to
capture her, but she evaded him.
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