"If you have found happiness in forgetting and excluding me entirely from your life and your future, I cannot complain that you followed my counsel; but I will accept that positive assurance only from your own truthful lips. Your peace of mind is more to me than my own. Have you shut me out of your heart forever?" She tried to move aside, to pass him, but he barred her escape with an outstretched arm, and she shrank back. "If you care no more for me now than when I left you, I have no alternative but to live alone; and I will never again intrude, never annoy you by the sight of my face. I will not accept compassion, or friendly sympathy. All--or none. I want love--love that brings a pure woman gladly to her husband's breast. Once you took some solemn vows for me, invoking the presence of the Lord you worship. Now, trusting you implicitly, knowing you will not deceive me, I must ask you to give me one final pledge. If you cannot love me as I wish--if your heart, your whole heart will never belong to me--then, calling God to witness the truth of your words, look me straight in the eyes and tell me so." She trembled, shut her eyes, and, as a rich red rushed into her white cheeks, she covered her face with her hands. A gust of wind shook the mimosa, and on her bowed head drifted the pink silk filaments, powdering her brown coil and puffs. Very gently Mr. Herriott took the trembling little hands, kissed the palms, and, drawing her slowly, tenderly toward him, lifted her arms to his neck, holding them there. With a low, broken cry she surrendered. "Mr. Noel, you have broken my heart." He waited to steady his voice. "My proud darling, there seemed no other way. When it heals, please God, I shall have my throne inside." With her face hidden on his shoulder, he held her close, his cheek against her hair, and each knew how fiercely the heart of the other throbbed. After some moments, he tightened the arm clasping her waist, and his deep, passionately tender tone caressed like a velvet glove. "I don't know how many years I have longed for the touch of your lips. Even as a child you never allowed me to kiss you; and, except your father, I am sure no man ever has. My sweetheart, if indeed you are learning to love me, can you, will you give me now what I want--my own wife's pure lips?" She crimsoned to the tips of her small ears, and clung to him, not daring to meet his eyes. "One memorable night, when two of my dogs froze at my feet, I sat under the lee of my sledge, waiting for a gale of sleet to howl itself to rest. I fell asleep and had a heavenly dream, in which you came and kissed me." "Mr. Herriott, you cannot love me now as you did before that horrible journey on the cars when your words seemed to scorch--brand me. I am afraid--I am afraid----" He felt her tremble.