“You love me!” he repeated, as though he were not quite sure that he heard aright. Jess pushes back the soft black curls from her face and laughs gayly, and the sound of her voice is like the music of silver bells. She does not answer his question in words, but nods her dark, curly head emphatically. His hands fall from her; he turns abruptly and takes one or two turns up and down the length of the long drawing-room. How shall he utter the words to her which he has come here to say? How shall he tell her that he is there to say good-by to her forever? “Do you know what I have been thinking ever since I came to this house?” she asked, as he paused an instant by her side, with the deep, troubled look on his face which so mystified her. “No,” he answered, hoarsely, glad that she was about to say something, for it would give him a moment or two longer in which to come to a conclusion. “I was thinking how very stupid I am, and how wonderful it was that you married a little simpleton like me.” That was the very opening he needed, to utter that which was weighing heavily on his mind; but without giving him the opportunity, although his lips had opened to speak, she went on, blithely: “I am going to study hard and become very wise, like the lady I am visiting here. But, oh, I forgot; you do not know Queenie--Mrs. Brown, I mean; but, dear me, it seems so odd to call her Mrs. anybody, she is so much more like an unmarried girl. Oh, she is so lovely, and graceful, and sweet. Do you know, it occurred to me only yesterday that had you seen her first, even though she is a widow, you might have fallen in love with her instead of me.” This was becoming almost unendurable. Who knew better than he the charms of Queenie? “I am going to be stately and dignified like she is, and I am going to be wise and womanly. Do you think you will love me quite as much then as you do now?” He could safely answer “Yes,” for he did not love her at all. “Thank you so much for assuring me of it,” she murmured, seizing his white hands and covering them with kisses. “Now I shall begin with a will.” The girl did not seem to notice the shadow that was growing each moment still deeper on his face, and the look of despair that was gathering in his troubled eyes, and the gravity, almost to sternness, that had settled about his mouth. Each moment this bright, gay child, who loved him so dearly, and was telling him so in every word, act and deed, was making the task before him but the harder. How would she take it when he told her that she need make no sacrifices, or study, on his account, for he never intended to see her again?