I came down to Atherstone, harassed and anxious, tired of everything and everybody, and there," said Charles, with sudden passion, turning and looking full at Ruth, "there I met _you_." The blood rushed to her face, and she hastily interposed, "I don't see any necessity to bring my name in." "Perhaps not," he returned, recovering himself instantly; "unfortunately, I do." "You expect too much of my vanity," said Ruth, her voice trembling a little; "but in this instance I don't think you can turn it to account.
I beg you will leave me out of the question." "I am sorry I cannot oblige you," he said, grimly; "but you can't be left out.

I only regret that you dislike being mentioned, because that is a mere nothing to what is coming." She trusted that he did not perceive that the reason she made no reply was because she suddenly felt herself unable to articulate.

Her heart was beating wildly, as that gentle, well conducted organ had never beaten before.

What was coming?
Could this stern, determined man be the same apathetic, sarcastic being whom she had hitherto known?
"From that time," he continued, "I became surer and surer of what at first I hardly dared to hope, what it seemed presumption in me to hope, namely, that at last I had found what I had looked for in vain so long.
I had to keep my engagement with the Hope-Actons in Scotland; but I regretted it.

I stayed as short a time as I could.