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Rh from her interview with the Duke. Her bright looks had given place to a troubled expression, and she was very pale.

"The Governor is like a madman in his wrath against you, Gerard," she said. "I have never seen him so moved. Both he and my uncle are now as furious at the thought of our marriage as before they—or at least my uncle—was eager to promote it."

"And you, Gabrielle?"

"I know not how to act or what to say," she replied with a sigh of despair.

"The tension of this morning's scene has tried you," he said gently. "But you do not believe I am the dastard"

"Gerard! No. I cannot. Every prompting of my heart bids me trust you. I think I would trust you if all the world bore witness against you. But there must surely be some explanation of so great a mystery."

"You love me?" he asked with sudden fervour, taking her hand and searching her eyes with his, in which the fire of love burned. She left her hand in his willingly and trustingly and met his gaze with a smile.

"Have I not shown it? Do you need any other answer?"

"With a love strong enough to face even this trial?" he insisted earnestly.

"I shall never change, Gerard. Nothing could change my heart—not even if all this were proven against you, as they both swear it can be. It would break my heart and blight my life; but my love would never change. And believe it I never would or will, unless your own lips tell me it is true; and even then my heart would rebel against your words."

"I shall never tell you that," he replied, vehemently. "Thank God there is no reason why I should not take your hand and look into your own innocent eyes and