Her lips moved, but no words issued from them.
"I begin to think," I solemnly proceeded, following the lead of her emotion, "that confession is the only way out of this difficulty: that only by the words you can utter Eleanore can be saved from the doom that awaits her. Will you not then show yourself a true woman by responding to my earnest entreaties?"
I seemed to have touched the right chord; for she trembled, and a look of wistfulness filled her eyes. "Oh, if I could!" she murmured.
"And why can you not? You will never be happy till you do. Eleanore persists in silence; but that is no reason why you should emulate her example. You only make her position more doubtful by it."
"I know it; but I cannot help myself. Fate has too strong a hold upon me; I cannot break away."
"That is not true. Any one can escape from bonds imaginary as yours."
"No, no," she protested; "you do not understand."
"I understand this: that the path of rectitude is a straight one, and that he who steps into devious byways is going astray."
A flicker of light, pathetic beyond description, flashed for a moment across her face; her throat rose as with one wild sob; her lips opened; she seemed yielding, when— A sharp ring at the front door-bell!
"Oh," she cried, sharply turning, "tell him I cannot see him; tell him"
"Miss Leavenworth," said I, taking her by both hands, "never mind the door; never mind anything but this. I have asked you a question which involves the mystery of this whole affair; answer me, then, for your soul’s sake; tell me, what the unhappy circumstances were which could induce you"
