She whose features it describes will not chide, that, at a moment of peril, I place it in the care of one as gentle as herself." Her eyes were downcast, as, again receiving it, she inquired with a girlish curiosity, "Is her name Edith, Mr.Colleton, of whom these features are the likeness!" The youth, surprised by the question, met the inquiry with another.
"How know you ?--wherefore do you ask ?" She saw his astonishment, and with a calm which had not, during the whole scene between them, marked her voice or demeanor, she replied instantly:-- "No matter--no matter, sir.

I know not well why I put the question--certainly with no object, and am now more than answered." The youth pondered over the affair in silence for a few moments, but desirous of satisfying the curiosity of the maiden, though on a subject and in relation to one of whom he had sworn himself to silence--wondering, at the same time, not less at the inquiry than the knowledge which it conveyed, of that which he had locked up, as he thought, in the recesses of his own bosom--was about to reply, when a hurried step, and sudden noise from the upper apartment of the house, warned them of the dangers of further delay.

The maiden interrupted with rapid tones the speech he was about to commence:-- "Fly, sir--fly.

There is no time to be lost.

You have lingered too long already.