216 THE CORAL RING. 
talking volubly, and he answering yes and no, and 
any thing else, at cross purposes, till at length, as 
if by accident, he drew her into the balcony which 
overhung the garden. The moon was shining 
brightly, and every thing without, in its placid 
quietness, contrasted strangely with the busy, 
hurrying scene within. 
“ Miss Elmore,” said Elliot, abruptly, “ may I 
ask you, sincerely — had you any design in a re¬ 
mark you made to me in the early part of the 
evening ? ” 
Florence paused, and though habitually the most 
practised and self-possessed of women, the color ac¬ 
tually receded from her cheek, as she answered,— 
“ Yes, Mr. Elliot, I must confess that I had.” 
“ And is it possible, then, that you have heard 
any thing?” 
“ I have heard, Mr. Elliot, that which makes 
me tremble for you, and for those whose life I 
know is bound up in you ; and, tell me, were it 
well, or friendly in me, to know that such things 
were said, that such_ danger existed, and not to 
wain you of it ? ” 
Elliot stood for a few moments in silence. 
“ Have I offended ? Have I taken too great a 
liberty ? ” said Florence, gently. 
Hitherto Elliot had only seen in Florence the- 
self-possessed, assured, light-hearted woman of 
fashion ; but there were a reality and depth of 
feeling in the few words she had spoken to him, 
