my own account. But even if I were rich I wouldn't interfere. I
don't like her father any better than Henry does, and if I began in
this way it would make a bad precedent. What's more, I won't introduce
money influences into an affair of this kind. If it comes to the
point, Stella must decide for me, ignoring all other considerations.
If she does, I won't permit her family to suffer, but I propose to
know that she chooses me absolutely in spite of everything. I am also
resolved that she shall be separated from her family as far as is
right, for there is a tone about them that I don't like."

"I thank you for your confidence, Graydon," said Madge, quietly. "You
are acting just as I should suppose you would. No one in the world
wishes you happiness more earnestly than I do. Come, let us take this
level place like the wind."

She was unusually gay during the remainder of their ride, but seemed
bent almost on running her horse to death. "To-morrow is Sunday," she
explained, "and I must crowd two rides into one."

"Wouldn't you ride to-morrow?"

"No; I have some old-fashioned notions about Sunday. You have been
abroad too long, perhaps, to appreciate them."

"I appreciate fidelity to conscience, Madge."

They had their supper together again as on the evening before, but
Madge was carelessly languid and fitful in her mirthful sallies, and
complained of over-fatigue. "I won't come down again to-night," she
said to Graydon as they passed out of the supper-room. "Good-night."

"Good-night, Madge," he replied, taking her hand in both his own.
"I understand you now, and know that you have gone beyond even your
superb strength to-day. Sleep the sleep of the justest and truest
little woman that ever breathed. I can't tell you how much you have
added to my happiness during the past two days."

"He understands me!" she muttered, as she closed the door of her room.
"I am almost tempted to doubt whether a merciful God understands me.
Why was this immeasurable love put into my heart to be so cruelly
thwarted? Why must he go blindly on to so cruel a fate? Of course
she'll renounce everything for him. Whatever else she may be, she is
not an idiot."

Henry Muir's quiet eyes had observed Madge closely, and from a little
distance he had seen the parting between her and his brother. Then
he saw Graydon seek Miss Wildmere and resume a manner which he had
learned to detest, and the self-contained man went out upon the
grounds, and sa