He had risen as he spoke, and offered her his hand, which she took, and lifting her eyes full of tears to his face, she said: "I have faith in Neil; if I had not, I believe I should die. He cannot help his mother's pride and opposition to our marriage. He is true to me through all, and he will come to me as soon as he knows of my trouble, I am sorry for you, Mr. Trevellian, if you really care for me, but you will get over that feeling and be again my friend. I do not wish to lose you, I have so few friends, oh, so few. I am sorry too, for Flossie, and interested in her. Mr. Trevellian, why don't you marry Flossie yourself and so keep her at the castle?"
"I marry Flossie! That child!" Jack exclaimed, staring blankly at Bessie, who smiled faintly and said: "She is seventeen; I am eighteen, and yet you sought me!"
"Yes, I know," Jack rejoined, "but there is a vast difference between you and Flossie; she is so small and she seems so young. I did not suppose she was seventeen. I have always looked upon her as a mere child to pet and not as a woman to marry."
"Then look upon her in that light now," Bessie said, but Jack only shook his head as he replied: "I have loved you, Bessie. I shall never love another. Farewell, and God bless you."
Stooping over her, he kissed her forehead, and then walked rapidly away with her question occasionally ringing in his ears and stirring new and strange thoughts in his heart where the pain was still so heavy.
"Why don't you marry Flossie?"