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"My God! shall I myself really have to say it to him?" she

thought. "Can I tell him I don't love him? That will be a lie.

What am I to say to him? That I love someone else? No, that's

impossible. I'm going away, I'm going away."

She had reached the door, when she heard his step. "No! it's not

honest. What have I to be afraid of? I have done nothing wrong.

What is to be, will be! I'll tell the truth. And with him one

can't be ill at ease. Here he is," she said to herself, seeing

his powerful, shy figure, with his shining eyes fixed on her. She

looked straight into his face, as though imploring him to spare

her, and gave her hand.

"It's not time yet; I think I'm too early," he said glancing

round the empty drawing-room. When he saw that his expectations

were realized, that there was nothing to prevent him from

speaking, his face became gloomy.

"Oh, no," said Kitty, and sat down at the table.