"Better than ever; you are all I have now! Oh, Elsie, don't shut your heart against me, I can't bear that. Try to believe that I have acted as justly as a man could. To the whole world I can be stern and silent, but let me tell you the truth. I loved that woman so, my heart is breaking under this grief. Bear patiently with me, child." "Oh, if you suffer, send for her back," cried Elsie. "Let her explain; you gave her no time----" "Hush, hush! Have I not said all those things to myself?" This man's pride was so utterly crushed that he was revealing the inmost secrets of his soul to this frail girl, scarcely caring to conceal from her how keenly he suffered. "But try," pleaded Elsie; "only try." "It is impossible; later you will see that as plainly as I do. Don't you see what a sin I should commit in taking a false, dishonored woman back to my heart; what a wrong to my sister in exposing her to the society of a creature so lost and fallen?" "She is good!" cried Elsie. "Bessie was an angel! Oh, I wish I was dead--dead--dead! I can't bear this; it is too much--too much!" Elsie wrung her hands and sobbed piteously; she had wept until nature exhausted itself, and that choked anguish was more painful to witness than the most violent outburst of tears. "We loved her so," muttered Mellen; "she was twined round that girl's heart as she enthralled mine; she has broken both." "What are you saying, Grant?" "Nothing, dear; I only pitied you and myself for loving her so much." "I will always love her," cried Elsie; "you never shall change me; nothing shall do that. She is innocent; I believe it; I would say so before the whole world." CHAPTER LXIX. ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS. Mellen was seized with a sudden fear. "Elsie," he said, "if anything should happen to me; if I should die----" She caught his hands and began to tremble. "What do you mean? Die--die!" "Nothing, dear; don't be frightened. But life is uncertain; what I mean is this--if you should outlive me promise never to seek that woman; never to let her come near you." "I can't promise that; I can't be so wicked." "You must, Elsie." "I can't; I won't! No, no; I'll never be bad enough for that!" "If you refuse me this, Elsie, you will sink a gulf between us which can never be filled up." "Don't talk so; remember how sick I am." "I do; I won't agitate you, but we must have an end of this subject. If I should die--" "I won't hear you talk about dying," she broke in. "You frighten me; you'll kill me." But he went on resolutely; "Promise never to see or hear from her." "Not that; it is too wicked--too horrible." "Elsie," he cried, in stern passion, "promise, or I will go out of this room, and though we live together it shall be as strangers." He rose as if to fulfil his threat; she sprang up in bed; her cowardice, her selfishness mastered every other feeling. "I promise. Come back, Grant, come back; oh, do!" He seated himself again, soothed and caressed her.