I suppose there is another ?" "Yes, Countess, there is another reason, but I cannot tell you now what it is." "I have no right to ask, of course," said Margaret,--"unless I can help you," she added, in her soft, deep voice.
"You have more right than you think, far more right," answered Claudius.
"And I thank you for the kind thought of help.

It is very good of you." He turned towards her, and leaned upon his hand as he sat.

Still the fog rolled up, and the lifeless sea seemed overshed with an unctuous calm.
They were almost in the dark on their strip of beach, and the moisture was already clinging in great, thick drops to their clothes, and to the rocks where they sat.

Still Claudius looked at Margaret, and Margaret looked at the narrow band of oily water still uncovered by the mist.
"When are you going ?" she asked slowly, as if hating to meet the answer.
"To-night," said Claudius, still looking earnestly at her.

The light was gone from her eyes, and the flush had long sunk away to the heart whence it had come.
"To-night ?" she repeated, a little vaguely.
"Yes," he said, and waited; then after a moment, "Shall you mind when I am gone ?" He leaned towards her, earnestly looking into her face.
"Yes," said Margaret, "I shall be sorry." Her voice was kind, and very gentle.