"We are not free to love each other," and
then, trying to liberate myself from his encircling arms I cried:
"God help me! God forgive me!"
"Wait!" said Martin, holding me a moment longer. "I know what you feel,
and I'm not the man to want a girl to wrong her conscience. But there's
one question I must ask you. If you _were_ free, could you love me
then?"
"Don't ask me that. I must not answer it."
"You must and shall," said Martin. "Could you?"
"Yes."
"That's enough for me--enough for to-night anyway. Have no fear. All
shall be well. Go to your room now."
He raised me to my feet and led me back to the foot of the balcony, and
there he kissed my hand and let me go.
"Good night!" he said softly.
"Good night!" I answered.
"God bless you, my pure sweet girl!"
At the next moment I was in my room, lying face down on my bed--seeing
no hope on any side, and sobbing my heart out for what might have been
but for the hard law of my religion and the cruel tangle of my fate.
SIXTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
Next morning, Monday morning, while I was breakfasting in my bedroom,
Price came with a message from Martin to say that he was going into the
glen and wished to know if I would go with him.
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