He is inflexible, yet his very obduracy
increases my love a hundred-fold."
At last after a lonely walk on the beach she concluded, "My
guardian must take me home on Monday next. He comes to-night to
spend Sunday with us, and I will make preparations to go at once."
Although her resolution did not fail her, she walked forward more
and more slowly, her dejection and weariness becoming almost
overpowering. As she was turning a sharp angle of rocks that
jutted well down to the water she came face to face with Ackland
and Mrs. Alston. She was off her guard; and her thoughts of him
had been so absorbing that she felt he must be conscious of them.
She flushed painfully and hurried by with slight recognition and
downcast face, but she had scarcely passed them when, acting under
a sudden impulse, she stopped and said in a low tone:
"Mr. Ackland--"
He turned expectantly toward her. For a moment she found it
difficult to speak, then ignoring the presence of Mrs. Alston,
resolutely began:
"Mr. Ackland, I must refer once more to a topic which you have in
a sense forbidden.
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