you for saying it for me," she replied.

You can't imagine how pleased I was at having earned her gratitude, even
in so little a matter. "I have thought of that," said I. "It is of no
consequence."

"But you don't understand," she pleaded earnestly.

"On the contrary, I understand perfectly," I assured her. "And the reason I
am not disturbed is--you are here, you are not with him."

She lowered her head so that I had no view of her face.

"You and he do not marry," I went on, "because you are both poor?"

"No," she replied.

"Because he does not care for you?"

"No--not that," she said.

"Because you thought he hadn't enough for two?"

A long pause, then--very faintly: "No--not that."

"Then it must be because he hasn't as much money as he'd like, and must
find a girl who'll bring him--what he _most_ wants."

She was silent.

"That is, while he loves you dearly, he loves money more. And he's willing
to see you go to another man, be the wife of another man, be--everything to
another man." I laughed. "I'll take my chances against love of that sort."

"You don't understand," she murmured. "You don't realize--there are many
things that mean nothing to you and that mean--oh, so much to people
brought up as we are."

"Nonsense!" said I. "What do you mean by 'we'? Nature has been bringing
us up for a thousand thousand years. A few years of silly false training
doesn't undo her work. If you and he had cared for each other, you wouldn't
be here, apologizing for his selfish vanity."

"No matter about him," she cried impatiently, lifting her head haughtily.
"The point is, I love him--and always shall. I warn you."

"And I take you at my own risk?"

Her look answered "Yes!"

"Well,"--and I took her hand--"then, we are engaged."

Her whole body grew tense, and her hand chilled as it lay in mine.
"Don't--please don't," I said gently. "I'm not so bad as all that. If you
will be as generous with me as I shall be with you, neither of us will ever
regret this."

There were tears on her cheeks as I slowly released her hand.

"I shall ask nothing of you that you are not ready freely to give," I said.

Impulsively she stood and put out her hand, and the eyes she lifted to mine
were shining and friendly. I caught her in my arms and kissed her--not once
but many times. And it was not until the chill of her ice-like face had
cooled me that I released her, drew back red and ashamed and stammering
apologies. But her