. That
means that you do not love me as a husband should be loved, but it does
not prove that you never could love me so."

"It proves just that."

"No, you may think so now, but let me reason you into seeing the falsity
of your thought,--for I do not wish to force or impel you to do a thing
repugnant to your reason as well as to your feelings. To begin with, you
do not dislike me?"

His face was painful in its eagerness.

"I have always loved you as a dear brother."

"Some people would consider that worse than hostility; I do not. Another
question: Is there anything about my life or personality to which you
object, or of which your are ashamed?"

"You know how proud we all are of you in your bearing in every relation
of life."

"I was egotist enough to think as much at any rate; otherwise I
could not approach you so confidently. Well, love--indifferent if you
will--and respect are not a bad foundation for something stronger. Will
you, for the sake of argument, suppose that for some reason you have
forgotten your opposition and have been led into marrying me?"

The sad indulgence of her smile was not inspiriting, but he continued,--

"Now, then, say you are my wife; that means I am your husband, and I
love you. You do not return my love, you say; you think you would be
wretched with me because you love another. Still, you are married to me;
that gives me rights that no other man can possess, no matter how much
you love him. You are bound to me, I to you and your happiness; so I
pledge myself to make you happier than you are now, because I shall make
you forget this man."

"You could not, and I should only grow to hate you."

"Impossible," the pallor of his face intensifying; "because I should
so act that my love would wait upon your pleasure: it would never push
itself into another's place, but it would in time overshadow the other.
For, remember, I shall be your husband. I shall give you another life;
I shall take you away with me. You will leave all your old friends
and associations for a while, and I shall be with you always,--not
intrusively, but necessarily. I shall give you every pleasure and
novelty that the Old World can afford. I shall shower my love on you,
not myself. In return I shall expect your tolerance. In time I will make
you love me."

His voice shook with the strength of his passion, while she listened in
heart-sick fear. Carried away by his manner, she almost felt as if he
had accompl