The Ghost of Guir House - Page 31/80

He had not found the slightest relief from the embarrassing ignorance

that enshrouded him. The girl's utter lack of coquetry, and her depth

of feeling, made his position even more complex than it might

otherwise have been.

"As you must know, I am talking in the dark," he continued after a

minute, "but this much I will venture to assert, that no act of mine

could be a sacrifice which would put my life in closer touch with

yours; for although it was only yesterday that we met for the first

time, I love you; and I loved you, Dorothy, from the instant I first

caught sight of you at the station. I do not pretend to explain this,

but have felt an overpowering passion from that moment."

"And you will not think me unmaidenly, Paul, if I say the same to

you?"

She made no effort to conceal her feelings, and they sat murmuring

sweet things into each other's ears until a green bird came

fluttering through the air, and lighting upon a bough just above

their heads, screamed: "Dorothy! Dorothy!"

It was a parrot, and there was something so uncanny in its sudden

appearance that Paul started: "He seems to be your chaperone!" he observed.

"He is my mascot!" cried Dorothy. "If it were not for his company, I

fear I should go mad. I am so lonely, Paul, you can not understand

it."

"Have you no neighbors?" he inquired.

"None within miles; and we live such a strange isolated life that

people are afraid of us."

Paul thought of the stage driver, and his look of horror on hearing

where he was going.

"I can't understand why people should be afraid of you simply because

you live alone," he said. "For my part, I think your life here is

most interesting. But you have not told me how I can help you."

"Nor can I yet," she answered. "There is a way, of course, but I can

not consent to so great a sacrifice from you; at least, not at

present."

"And would it compel me to leave you?"

"No; it would compel you to be with me always."

"And have you so little faith in me as to call that a sacrifice? I

did flatter myself that you believed what I told you just now."

"But, Paul, you do not know me. Wait until you do. Then, perhaps, you

will change your mind."