'Then do not. It shall all come from me. No one shall cast upon you a shadow of blame. You have done me no wrong; you were hers, and you wronged her when you tried to love me. I will help you--at least I can be your friend. Listen; I shall see her. It shall be I who have brought you together again--that is how the shall all think of it. I shall see her, and as your friend, as the only one to whom you have yet spoken. Do you understand me, Wilfrid? Do you see that I make the future smooth for her and you? She must never know what _we_ know, And the others--they shall do as I will; they shall not dare to speak one word against you. What right have they, if _I_ am--am glad?' He stood in amaze. It was impossible to doubt her sincerity; her face, the music of her voice, the gestures by which her eagerness expressed herself, all were too truthful. What divine nature had lain hidden in this woman! He gazed at her as on a being more than mortal. 'How can I accept this from you?' he asked hoarsely. 'Accept? How can you refuse? It is my right, it is my will! Would you refuse me this one poor chance of proving that my love was unselfish? I would have killed myself to win a tender look from you at the last moment, and you shall not go away thinking less of me than I deserve. You know already that I am not the idle powerless woman you once thought me; you shall know that I can do yet more. If _she_ is noble in your eyes, can _I_ consent to be less so?' Passion the most exalted possessed her. It infected Wilfrid. He felt that the common laws of intercourse between man and woman had here no application; the higher ground to which she summoned him knew no authority of the conventional. To hang his head was to proclaim his own littleness. 'You are not less noble, Beatrice,' his voice murmured. 'You have said it. So there is no longer a constraint between us. How simple it is to do for love's sake what those who do not know love think impossible. I will see her, then the last difficulty is removed. That letter has told me where she lives. If I go there to-day, I shall find her?' 'Not till the evening,' Wilfrid replied under his breath. 'When is your marriage?' He looked at her without speaking. 'Very soon? Before the end of the session?' 'The day after to-morrow.' She was white to the lips, but kept her eyes on him steadily. 'And you go away at once?' 'I had thought'--he began; then added, 'Yes, at once; it is better.' 'Yes, better. Your friend stays and makes all ready for your return. Perhaps I shall not see you after to-day, for that time. Then we are to each ether what we used to be. You will bring her to hear me sing? I shall not give it up now.' She smiled, moved a little away from him, then turned again and gave her hand for leave-taking. 'Wilfrid!' 'Beatrice?' 'She would not grudge it me. Kiss me--the last time--on my lips!' He kissed her. When the light came again to his eyes, Beatrice had gone.