"Understand me distinctly, Claude, all is finally at an end between us
from this forever more! And now, farewell!"
"Go, Miriam, go!" he murmured. "Leave me to my fate--I have deserved it
all, and more. I have been weak and wicked--you shall not find me
ungrateful. Go, queenly spirit! go, soul of tenderness, pity, and most
unselfish faith, that ever folded its wings in human breast! go, and
find a fitter mate! For me, the world is wide, I shall offend your gaze
no more."
Without another word I left him. I could not trust myself to speak. Too
much of the past returned to render any further intercourse between us
wise, or other than torture at that season. Besides, my confidence in
him was gone forever, and with it had vanished respect, esteem,
affection!
CHAPTER VI.
"What is this Claude is talking of, Miriam?" asked Mr. Bainrothe a day
or two after the interview I have described in my last pages.
"Copenhagen again--and he seems quite dispirited. He says you have sent
him into banishment for a year, Miriam--a long probation truly!"
"Our engagement was to have been for that length of time from the
first," I said, evasively; "my father was not willing for me to marry
before I had attained my seventeenth year, you remember, and it still
wants some months of that period."
"Oh, yes! but all that is changed now by the force of circumstances.
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