Why didn't you? Were you afraid to
look at it? Miram! why do you turn away your head? Miriam! answer me--do
you know the handwriting?"
"No, Paul, I do not know it--do you?"
"No! no! how should I? But Miriam, your head is still averted. Your very
voice is changed. Miriam! what mean you? Tell me once for all. Do you
suspect the handwriting?"
"How should I? Do you, Paul?"
"No! no! I don't suspect it."
They seemed afraid to look each other in the face; and well they might
be, for the written agony on either brow; they seemed afraid to hear the
sound of each other's words; and well they might be, for the hollow,
unnatural sound of either voice.
"It cannot be! I am crazy, I believe. Let me clear my--oh, Heaven!
Miriam! did--was--do you know whether there was any one in particular on
familiar terms with Miss Mayfield?"
"No one out of the family, except Miss Thornton."
"'Out of the family'--out of what family?"
"Ours, at the cottage."
"Was--did--I wonder if my brother knew her intimately?"
"I do not know; I never saw them in each other's company but twice in my
life."
The youth breathed a little freer.
"Why did you ask, Paul?"
"No matter, Miriam. Oh! I was a wretch, a beast to think--"
"What, Paul?"
"There are such strange resemblances in--in--in--What are you looking at
me so for, Miriam?"
"To find your meaning.
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