“‘No,’ I said, ‘you will not. You have done what you consider your duty; and, if I do not thank you for your misjudged kindness, it is only because I find it difficult to speak ordinary words of courtesy when my heart is broken. There is nothing more you can do for me—all the rest lies between him and me—between him and me and God, and in the bitterness of our future no man shall meddle.’ “‘As you wish,’ he answered; ‘only tell me one thing more: have you friends to whom you can apply for assistance? I only ask that I may feel you are not quite desolate.’ “This touched me a little. ‘I have one friend,’ I said, ‘who would not, I know, turn from me in any distress or difficulty.’ “‘And that friend——’ “‘Is a woman,’ I finished, ‘and one not of my own kindred nor of mine own house; but I shall not go to her, and what I mean to do I shall not tell you.’ “He turned and looked at me doubtfully; then he said, ‘May I call to-morrow?’ to which I answered, ‘Yes,’ if he would only leave me then. “Twice on his way to the window he stopped and hesitated; and while he went down the garden, I saw him clasp his hands as if praying. “I longed to fling a book after him; but I was wrong, Heather, I was wrong. I believe him to have been a good man, though he did come and take all the sunshine out of my life in a minute, for it was such sunshine, and I was so happy. “When he left me, then, for the first time I realised my position. I will not tell you, Heather, what I passed through during the hours that followed. There was a time when I knew, if such a temptation had been presented to me, I should have yielded to it; but I thought of you, and that thought made me strong. I seemed to hear your voice calling me away. I fancied I could see your eyes pleading—pleading for me to leave; you saved me, Heather. I should have stayed on, had I never known you; I should have stayed on or drowned myself—the temptation swayed now to sin, now to suicide, and when I left his house, I do not think I knew exactly whether it was to be life or death,—whether I would end the struggle or endure it. I believe I was mad.” “And how long is it since all this happened?” Mrs. Dudley inquired.