"And it would not stop at that," went on Mrs. Varrick. "I would cut him off without a dollar, and turn him into the streets a beggar! That would soon bring him to his senses. Ay, I would do all that and more, if he were even to speak to you again. So you can see for yourself the position you would place him in by holding the least conversation with him." "He shall not suffer because of me!" sobbed Jessie Bain. "I will go away and never look upon his face again. I only wanted to tell him to believe me. I am going, Mrs. Varrick, out into the cold and bitter world from which he took me. Try to think of me as kindly as you can!" With this, she turned and walked slowly from the room. On the threshold she paused and turned back. "Will you say to him--to your son, I mean--that I am very grateful for all that he has done for me," she asked, "and that if the time ever comes when I can repay it, I will do so? Tell him I would give my life, if I could only serve him!" "One moment," said the lady, as she was about to close the door: "I do not wish to send you away empty-handed." As she spoke she drew a purse from her pocket, saying: "You will find this well filled. There is only one condition I make in giving it to you, and that is, that you sign a written agreement that you will never seek or hold any communication with my son hereafter." "I am very poor indeed, madame," Jessie said, "but I-- I could not take one penny from--from the person who believes me guilty of theft. But I will sign the agreement, because--because you ask me to do so." "Then step this way," said Mrs. Varrick, going to the table, where, pushing a folded paper aside, Jessie saw a closely written document lying beneath it. On the further end of the table a gold pen was resting on a bronze ink-tray. Mrs. Varrick dipped the pen in the ink, and handed it to the girl. "Sign there," she said, indicating, with a very shaking finger, a line at the bottom. Perfectly innocent of the dastardly trap that had been set for her, Jessie took the pen from the hand of Hubert's mother, and fearlessly wrote her name--signing away all hopes of happiness for all time to come, and putting a brand on her innocent brow more terrible than the brand of Cain. Without waiting for the ink to dry upon it, Mrs. Varrick eagerly snatched the paper and thrust it into her bosom. Jessie slowly left the room, and a few moments later, carrying the same little bundle that she had brought with her, she passed slowly up the walk and through the arched gate-way, Mrs. Varrick watching after her from behind the lace-draped window. She watched her out of sight, praying that she might never see her face again.