148
WYLD ER'S HAJVD.
"Well, Radie, dear — you have put your hand to the
plough, and you shan't turn hack now."
"You seem, sir, to fancy that I have no right to choose
for myself," said Miss Rachel, spiritedly.
"Now, Radie, you must be reasonable —who have I to
advise with?"
"Not me, Stanley — keep your plots and your secrets
to yourself. In the guilty path you have opened for me
one step more I will never tread."
"You'll see that you must, though. You'll see it in
a little while. Self-preservation, dear Radie, is the first
law of nature."
"For yourself, Stanley; and for me, self-sacrifice,"
she retorted, bitterly.
"Well, Radie, I may as well tell you one thing that
I'm resolved to carry out," said Lake, with a dreamy
serenity, looking on the dark carpet. "Do you recollect,
Radie, what I said that morning when I first called here,
and saw you?"
"Perhaps I do, but I don't know what you mean,"
answered she.
"I said he should go abroad, and so he shall," said
Lake, in a very low tone, with a grim oath.
"Why do you talk that way? You terrify me," said
Rachel, with one hand raised toward his face with a ges-
ture of horror and entreaty, and the other closed upon his
wrist.
"I say he shall, Radie."
"Has he lost his wits? I can't comprehend you — you
frighten me, Stanley. You're talking wildly on purpose,
I believe, to terrify me. You know the state I'm in -—
sleepless — half wild — all alone here. You're talking
like a maniac. It's cruel — it's cowardly."
"I mean to do it — you'll see."