"What would you do?" interrupted Lizzie; "what _could_ you do, placed as you are with that man? He has been working for this, Alf dear, and you haven't seen it. So deep and true is Lily's love for you, that if he were to say to her, 'I have your brother in my power, and I can bring misery and shame upon him, and will, if you are cold to me!'--if he were to say this to Lily in his own bad way, and work upon her loving heart in his own bad way----O, Alfred, I could almost pray that somebody would kill him!--if he were to do all this, as he may, I tremble to think what Lily would do." "What would she do?" The words came faintly from a throat parched by remorse. "Can you ask, Alf? What would _I_ do for you? To secure your happiness, is there any sacrifice that I would not make? Lily's love for you, although it is the love of a sister, is not less strong than mine. But I have learnt harder lessons than Lily has had to learn, and I should not be so easily led as she would be. A bad, calculating man, as Mr. Sheldrake is, could work upon such a simple nature as hers more easily than upon mine. I should be strong where she, through innocence and simplicity, would be weak. And when she felt, as she would feel, that any sacrifice of happiness which she would be called upon to make would be made to secure the happiness of a beloved brother----" "Stop, Lizzie!" cried Alfred, rising in his agitation, and turning from her. "Stop, for God's sake! I have been blind." Yes, he had been blind; and blindly had walked, step by step, to the terrible abyss which lay before him now, deliberately taking with him a pure devoted girl, whom, despite all his selfishness, he loved next in the world to Lizzie. All the sweet memories of his life, until he met Lizzie, were of his sister, and he had conspired against her happiness. He was powerless now to undo the past; but he might atone for it. He silently swore that if he were fortunate on Tuesday he would become a better man. "I have something else to tell you, Alfred," said Lizzie, after a long pause. "Lily is in love." "In love! Ah, I see more clearly now, dear Lizzie. With Felix?" "Yes, a happy life is before her, with that true man, if happily they come together." "And he?" "Loves her." "Has he told you?" "No; but there are things that need no telling. We women know. He has not spoken to her, because, because----" "Go on, Lizzie." "Because he sees what you have been blind to, and out of the nobleness of his heart will not add to her distress." "It would have been better for her," groaned Alfred, "and for you, if I had never been born." "Nay," remonstrated Lizzie, in a gentle loving tone, "we must not repine: we must try to do better. Promise--and I will help you, with all my strength, and so will Lily and Felix--ah, you don't know what a heart he has! And your grandfather, Alfred, that good old man----" "I know what you would say about him, Lizzie. I am punished enough already."