ll you what the end will be--you'll marry him."

He had touched the right string at last. It rung back in answer before
he could add another word.

"You don't know me," she said, firmly. "You don't know what I can suffer
for Frank's sake. He shall never marry me till I can be what my father
said I should be--the making of his fortune. He shall take no burden,
when he takes me; I promise you that! I'll be the good angel of Frank's
life; I'll not go a penniless girl to him, and drag him down." She
abruptly left her seat, advanced a few steps toward Mr. Clare, and
stopped in the middle of the room. Her arms fell helpless on either side
of her, and she burst into tears. "He shall go," she said. "If my heart
breaks in doing it, I'll tell him to-morrow that we must say Good-by!"

Mr. Clare at once advanced to meet her, and held out his hand.

"I'll help you," he said. "Frank shall hear every word that has passed
between us. When he comes to-morrow he shall know, beforehand, that he
comes to say Good-by."

She took his hand in both her own--hesitated--looked at him--and
pressed it to her bosom. "May I ask a favor of you, before you go?"
she said, timidly. He tried to take his hand from her; but she knew her
advantage, and held it fast. "Suppose there should be some change for
the better?" she went on. "Sup pose I could come to Frank, as my fat her
said I should come to him--?"

Before she could complete the question, Mr. Clare made a second effort
and withdrew his hand. "As your father said you should come to him?" he
repeated, looking at her attentively.

"Yes," she replied. "Strange things happen sometimes. If strange things
happen to me will you let Frank come back before the five years are
out?"

What did she mean? Was she clinging desperately to the hope of melting
Michael Vanstone's heart? Mr. Clare could draw no other conclusion from
what she had just said to him. At the beginning of the interview he
would have roughly dispelled her delusion. At the end of the interview
he left her compassionately in possession of it.

"You are hoping against all hope," he said; "but if it gives you
courage, hope on. If this impossible good fortune of yours ever happens,
tell me, and Frank shall come back. In the meantime--"

"In the meantime," she interposed sadly, "you have my promise."

Once more Mr. Clare's sharp eyes searched her face attentively.

"I will trust your promise," he said. "You shall see Frank to-morrow."