"I am sorry, very sorry," said Belle Gordon, as a shadow of deep distress flitted over her pale sad face.

She was usually cheerful and serene in her manner; but now it seemed as if the very depths of her soul had been stirred by some mournful and bitter memory.

"Your question was so unexpected and--" "And what!" said Paul in a tone of sad expectancy, "so unwelcome ?" "It was so sudden, I was not prepared for it." "I do not," said Paul, "ask an immediate reply.

Give yourself ample time for consideration." "Mr.Clifford," said Belle, her voice gathering firmness as she proceeded, "while all the relations of life demand that there should be entire truthfulness between us and our fellow creatures, I think we should be especially sincere and candid in our dealings with each other on this question of marriage, a question not only as affecting our own welfare but that of[5] others, a relation which may throw its sunshine or shadow over the track of unborn ages.

Permit me now to say to you, that there is no gentleman of my acquaintance whom I esteem more highly than yourself; but when you ask me for my heart and hand, I almost feel as if I had no heart to give; and you know it would be wrong to give my hand where I could not place my heart." "But would it be impossible for you to return my affection ?" "I don't know, but I am only living out my [vow] of truthfulness when I say to you, I feel as if I had been undone for love.