’Tell me, dear Countess Mirelle, if you had confided diamonds to me, knowing them to be diamonds, you would not be angry with me for selling them for this very purpose—to provide you with the means of living yourself, and of returning the kindness shown you by Mrs. Trampleasure and her daughter?’ ’I would go down on my knees to thank you. I would be full of gratitude to you.’ He breathed freely; he had received his absolution. He had been justified in acting as he had done; Mirelle had approved of his conduct with her own lips. He had carried out her wishes. It was unnecessary for him to tell her all, now that he was certain that he acted as she would have him act. But he did not read her heart. He did not understand the real significance of her words. She would indeed have been thankful to know that she had received her own money, so as to be free from all obligations to him—so as not to be forced to take the step the thought of which killed the life out of her heart. That hope was gone—a poor hope, but still a hope. Nothing remained for her but the surrender; she must become a sacrifice. ’It was not so,’ she went on sadly, ’I knew it was not so, for you would not have parted with my mother’s set of stones without consulting me. No, Mr. Herring, I have not the poor pride of knowing I am my own mistress, and independent of every one. You have been to me a generous friend and a guardian when I needed assistance and protection.’ ’Dear Countess Mirelle, I am ready still to act as your friend, your guardian, and your protector.’ ’I know it, Mr. Herring, and I frankly accept your offer. I am willing that you should continue such for the rest of my life.’ ’Countess!’ Herring’s voice shook; ’how happy, how proud you make me!’ ’Let me speak,’ she said. Then her heart failed her. She went to the fire, and rested her hands on the mantelpiece, folded as in prayer, and leaned her brow for a moment on them. The red glow of the fire smote upwards and illumined and warmed the face. She was praying. Her strength was ebbing away; the dreaded moment had come. ’I holy and innocent Agnes, pure lamb! Thou who didst bow thy neck to the sword, intercede for me! O Cicely, thou whose heart was filled with heavenly music, making thee deaf to the voice of an earthly bridegroom, pray for me! O Dorothy, thou who didst pine for the lilies and roses of Paradise, plead for me!’ She raised her white brow from its momentary resting-place. The strength had come. The moment of agony had arrived, and she was nerved to pass through. ’Mr. Herring,’ she spoke slowly, leisurely, ’I have no right to accept your offer, unless you confer on me the right—the only right——’ She could speak no more. Her white, quivering face, her sunken eyes, and uplifted hands that shook as with a palsy, showed her powerlessness to proceed. Herring took a step forward. She drew back, shrinking before him as perhaps the martyr shrinks before the executioner.