He turned pale as death, reeled, and supported himself against the trunk of a friendly tree. Hannah looked at him, and from the bottom of her heart she pitied him; for she knew what love was--loving Reuben. "Mr. Brudenell," she said, "do not take this to heart so much: why should you, indeed, when you know that your fate is in your own hands? You are master of your own destiny, and no man who is so should give way to despondency. The alternative before you is simply this: to cease to visit Nora, or to marry her. To do the first you must sacrifice your love, to do the last you must sacrifice your pride. Now choose between the courses of action! Gratify your love or your pride, as you see fit, and cheerfully pay down the price! This seems to me to be the only manly, the only rational, course." "Oh, Hannah, Hannah, you do not understand! you do not!" he cried in a voice full of anguish. "Yes, I do; I know how hard it would be to you in either case. On the one hand, what a cruel wrench it will give your heart to tear yourself from Nora--" "Yes, yes; oh, Heaven, yes!" "And, on the other hand, I know what an awful sacrifice you would make in marrying her--" "It is not that! Oh, do me justice! I should not think it a sacrifice! She is too good for me! Oh, Hannah, it is not that which hinders!" "It is the thought of your mother and sisters, perhaps; but surely if they love you, as I am certain they do, and if they see your happiness depends upon this marriage--in time they will yield!" "It is not my family either, Hannah! Do you think that I would sacrifice my peace--or hers--to the unreasonable pride of my family? No, Hannah, no!" "Then what is it? What stands in the way of your offering your hand to her to whom you have given your heart?" "Hannah, I cannot tell you! Oh, Hannah, I feel that I have been very wrong, criminal even! But I acted blindly; you have opened my eyes, and now I see I must visit your house no more; how much it costs me to say this--to do this--you can never know!" He wiped the perspiration from his pale brow, and, after a few moments given to the effort of composing himself, he asked: "Shall we go on now?" She nodded assent and they walked onward. "Hannah," he said, as they went along, "I have one deplorable weakness." She looked up suddenly, fearing to hear the confession of some fatal vice. He continued: "It is the propensity to please others, whether by doing so I act well or ill!" "Mr. Brudenell!" exclaimed Hannah, in a shocked voice. "Yes, the pain I feel in seeing others suffer, the delight I have in seeing them enjoy, often leads--leads me to sacrifice not only my own personal interests, but the principles of truth and justice!" "Oh, Mr. Brudenell!"