so hopeless, that I felt
it would be cruel on my part to allow him to entertain such a mad feeling.

'Surely you have not considered the impossibility of such a thing,' I
said.

'Nothing's impossible,' he cried.

'But do you not see the insuperable barriers in the way?'

'I see the barriers, but they must be swept aside. Why, man!' and his
voice became stronger, 'when I awoke a few hours ago, and saw those two
doctor chaps, I was first of all bewildered, I could not understand.
Then it suddenly came to me where I was, in whose house I was staying,
and in a flash I realized everything. As I said, when I saw her first, I
despaired; but no man who believes in God should despair. I tell you,
the thought of it means life, health, strength, to me! I have something
great to live for. Why, think, man, think!'

'I am thinking hard,' I replied. 'I need hardly tell you, Edgecumbe,
that I am your friend, and that I wish you the best that you can hope
for. It seems cruel, too, after what you have gone through, to try to
destroy the thought which is evidently dear to you, but I must do it.'

'But I love her, man!' and his voice trembled as he spoke. 'When I saw
her standing in the doorway, as we drove up the other night, she was a
revelation to me,--she made all the world new. One look into her eyes
was like opening the gates of heaven. Do you realize what a pure soul
she has?--how beautiful she is? She is a child woman. She has all the
innocence, all the artlessness of a child of ten, and all the resolution,
and the foresight, and the daring of a woman. She seemed to me like a
being from another world, like one sent to tell me what life should be.
She made everything larger, grander, holier, and before I had been in her
presence five seconds I knew that I was hers for ever and for ever.'

'It is because she is so pure, and so innocent, that you should give up
all such thoughts at once,' I said.

'But why should I? Tell me that.'

'You will not think me harsh or unkind?'

'I shall not think anything wrong,' and he laughed as he spoke. 'I will
tell you why. Nothing can destroy my resolve.'

'My dear fellow,' I said, 'evidently you don't realize the situation.'

'Well, help me to realize it; tell me what you have in your mind.'

'First of all, a woman's love may not be won easily,--it may be she cares
for some one else.'

'I will make her love me!' he cried; 'she will not be able to help
herself. She w