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 your conduct. You will be as free after you have spoken as before. I want merely to ascertain a fact, of which my ignorance distracts me! If you have to give me a negative, your vanity alone can suffer; if an affirmative—" She put her hand upon her forehead, and then rapidly added,—"the suffering will not be yours!—give it, therefore, boldly! "Twill be heaven to me to end this suspense, be it how it may!"

Starting up, but preventing Ellis from rising, by laying a hand upon each of her shoulders, she gazed upon her eyes with a fixed stare, of almost frantic impatience, and said, "Speak! say Yes, or No, at once! Give me no phrase—Let me see no hesitation!—Kill me, or restore me to life!—Has Harleigh—" she gasped for breath—"ever made you any declaration?"

"None!" steadily, forcibly, and instantly Ellis answered.

"Enough!" cried she, recovering some composure.