Speak out, Mark, and tell me the truth, and relieve me from these horrible apprehensions." As she spoke, her small hand rested upon his wrist with a passionate energy, in full accordance with the spirit of her language.

The head of the unhappy man sank upon his breast; his eyes, dewily suffused, were cast upon the floor, and he spoke nothing, or inarticulately, in reply.
"What means this silence--what am I to believe--what am I to think, Mark Forrester?
You can not have given aid to those bad men, whom you yourself despise.

You have not so far forgotten yourself and me as to go on with that wicked man Rivers, following his direction, to take away life--to spill blood as if it were water! You have not done this, Mark.
Tell me at once that I am foolish to fear it for an instant--that it is not so." He strove, but in vain, to reply.

The inarticulate sounds came forth chokingly from his lips without force or meaning.

He strode impatiently up and down the apartment, followed by the young and excited maiden, who unconsciously pursued him with repeated inquiries; while her mother, awakened to the necessity of interference, vainly strove to find a solution of the mystery, and to quiet both of the parties.
"Will you not speak to me, Mark?
Can you not, will you not answer ?" The unhappy man shook his head, in a perplexed and irritated manner, indicating his inability to reply--but concluding with pointing his finger impatiently to Ralph, who stood up, a surprised and anxious spectator of the scene.