at hand—and—and I want you to believe, if I should help you to escape, if there should be no other means, never, never will I presume on any service I may have done to you. Once free you shall never see me again. I am not a cur, I would never plead to you by what I might have done———'
His eyes were glistening, his voice was feeble with haste and emotion, and eagerness to assure her that no self-seeking thoughts or selfish hopes were stirring him; the strength of love that was in his soul lifted him out of common egotistic passion; he in truth forgot himself in her.
She did not answer; she scarcely heard him; after he had spoken she thought over his words but dully, and with little faith in them. To escape; yes; that would be blessed indeed; but she did not wish to owe him anything. She thought Este would sooner choose that she should suffer here than become free by the aid of any hand not his.
The love of the Sicilian, even in its simplicity, honesty, and generosity, had always struck a chord of anger in her. She had always wondered if she had been too familiar with a stranger that morning on the
