It was evident he had
come to some resolution that he meant to keep. When he was wishing
Bessie "good-night," he held her hand imprisoned for a moment without
pressing it. "You are so good a theologian," he said, "that perhaps you
can tell me where a text comes from that has haunted me for the last
hour. It speaks of some one who 'loosed the bands of Orion.'" His manner
and the sudden address disconcerted Mrs. Danvers so completely as to
incapacitate her from reply: she suffered "judgment to go by default;"
and left Royston under the impression that she had never read the Book
of Job.
The next day he asked Cecil to elope with him.
She listened without betraying either terror, or anger, or disdain; but
she raised her beautiful eyes to his with a sad, searching inquiry,
before which many men would have quailed. "Have you counted the cost to
yourself and to me?"
"I have done both," replied Keene, gravely. "I can not say that you will
never repent it; but I know that I shall never regret it."
There were no promises or vows exchanged; but a silence for two long
minutes; and, when these were passed, the sweet, pure lips had lost
their virginity.
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