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Book, page 241 / 300 'No--I am going to serve a campaign or two abroad. I think every young man in these times--' 'Good heavens! What does this mean? What can you mean?' cried she, fixing her eyes upon his, as if she would read his very soul. 'Why? what reason?--Oh, tell me the truth and at once.' His change of colour--his hand that trembled, and withdrew from hers--the expression of his eyes as they met hers-- revealed the truth to her at once. As it flashed across her mind, she started back; her face grew crimson, and, in the same instant, pale as death. 'Yes--you see, you feel the truth now,' said Lord Colambre. 'You see, you feel, that I love you--passionately,' 'Oh, let me not hear it!' said she; 'I must not--ought not. Never, till this moment, did such a thought cross my mind--I thought it impossible--oh, make me think so still.' 'I will--it is impossible that we can ever be united.' 'I always thought so,' said she, taking breath with a deep sigh. 'Then why not live as we have lived?' 'I cannot--I cannot answer for myself--I will not run the risk; and therefore I must quit you--knowing, as I do, that there is an invincible obstacle to our union, of what nature I cannot explain; I beg you not to inquire.' 'You need not beg it--I shall not inquire--I have no curiosity-- none,' said she, in a passive, dejected tone; 'that is not what I am thinking of in the least. I know there are invincible obstacles; I wish it to be so. But, if invincible, you who have so much sense, honour, and virtue--' 'I hope, my dear cousin, that I have honour and virtue. But there are temptations to which no wise, no good man will expose himself. Innocent creature! you do not know the power of love.
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