'Go, love!' repeated she more urgently, and in a tone which, though not unkind, demanded prompt obedience, and obtained it.
'Well, Mrs.Graham ?' said I, calmly and coldly; for, though I saw she was miserable, and pitied her, I felt glad to have it in my power to torment her.
She fixed her eyes upon me with a look that pierced me to the heart; and yet it made me smile.
'I don't ask the reason of this change, Gilbert,' said she, with bitter calmness: 'I know it too well; but though I could see myself suspected and condemned by every one else, and bear it with calmness, I cannot endure it from you .-- Why did you not come to hear my explanation on the day I appointed to give it ?' 'Because I happened, in the interim, to learn all you would have told me--and a trifle more, I imagine.' 'Impossible, for I would have told you all!' cried she, passionately--'but I won't now, for I see you are not worthy of it!' And her pale lips quivered with agitation.
'Why not, may I ask ?' She repelled my mocking smile with a glance of scornful indignation.
'Because you never understood me, or you would not soon have listened to my traducers--my confidence would be misplaced in you--you are not the man I thought you.

Go! I won't care what you think of me.' She turned away, and I went; for I thought that would torment her as much as anything; and I believe I was right; for, looking back a minute after, I saw her turn half round, as if hoping or expecting to find me still beside her; and then she stood still, and cast one look behind.

It was a look less expressive of anger than of bitter anguish and despair; but I immediately assumed an aspect of indifference, and affected to be gazing carelessly around me, and I suppose she went on; for after lingering awhile to see if she would come back or call, I ventured one more glance, and saw her a good way off, moving rapidly up the field, with little Arthur running by her side and apparently talking as he went; but she kept her face averted from him, as if to hide some uncontrollable emotion.

And I returned to my business.
But I soon began to regret my precipitancy in leaving her so soon.

It was evident she loved me--probably she was tired of Mr.Lawrence, and wished to exchange him for me; and if I had loved and reverenced her less to begin with, the preference might have gratified and amused me; but now the contrast between her outward seeming and her inward mind, as I supposed,--between my former and my present opinion of her, was so harrowing--so distressing to my feelings, that it swallowed up every lighter consideration.
But still I was curious to know what sort of an explanation she would have given me--or would give now, if I pressed her for it--how much she would confess, and how she would endeavour to excuse herself.