"Ah, but I will not! Harry!" cried Marion, with a sudden change of voice, "I know that all you say is true. I know how generous you are, that you would really do all you say you would. I need not say that I thank you. That would mean too little. But I will not take from you one-thousandth part of what you offer. I will not taint your life with mine. You could not answer my question. You could not deny what I said--that if you were in my place, you would suffer anything rather than ask me to marry you. I know--you say it is different--but it is not. Disgrace is just as real from woman to man as from man to woman, and you shall not have it from me nor through me. That is why I say good-bye. That is why you must say it too--for my sake." "For your sake?" "Yes," she answered. "Do you think that I could ever be happy again? Do you not see that if I married you now, I should be haunted through every minute of my life by the bitter presence of the wrong done you? Do you not know what I should feel if people looked askance at you, and grew cold in their acquaintance, and smiled to each other when you went by? Do you think that would be easy to bear? Yes, it is good-bye for my sake, as well as yours. Not lightly--you know it. It means good-bye to love, and hope, and if I live, it means the loss of freedom, too, when John Darche is released from prison." "What!" cried Brett. "Do you mean to say that you would ever let him come back to you?" "I mean that I will not be divorced. And he would come back to me--he will come back for help, and I must give it to him when he does." "Receive that man under your roof!" He could not believe that she was in earnest. "Yes. Since he is alive he is still my husband. When he comes back after undergoing his sentence I shall have to receive him." "When you know that you could have a divorce for the asking?" "Which I would refuse if it were thrust upon me," she answered firmly. "That would be mad indeed. What can that possibly have to do with me?" "This," she said. "We are speaking this last time. I will not be divorced from him; do you know why? Because if I were--if I were free--I should be weak, and marry you. Do you understand now? Try and understand me, for I shall not say it again--it is too hard to say." "Not so hard as it is to believe." "But you will try, will you not?" "No." The monosyllable had scarcely escaped from his lips, short, energetic and determined, when he was interrupted by Stubbs, who seemed destined to appear at inopportune moments on that day. He was evidently much excited, and he stood stock still by the door. At the same time there was a noise outside, of many feet and of subdued voices. Stubbs made desperate gestures. "Mr. Brett, sir! Will you please come outside, sir!" He was hardly able to make himself understood. "What is the matter?" asked Marion, severely. "I cannot help it, sir! Indeed I cannot, Madam!" protested the distressed butler. Brett understood.