"A literary treasure," he said, with emphasis. "Yes," he added, "what there is here will, I think, give her reputation and established position, and a command of prices which will enable her to fullfil her long cherished intention of studying in Paris. She will go out with Miss Ida Van Arsdel, soon after you are gone. I can assure her the means, and I have already procured her the situation of correspondent to the _Chronicle_, with very liberal terms. So you see her way is all plain." "But what shall we do with the _Ladies' Cabinet?_" "O, we'll manage it among us. Caroline will write for it occasionally." "_Caroline!_" There was a great deal in the manner in which Bolton spoke that name. It was full of suppressed feeling. Some can express as much intensity of devotion by the mere utterance of a name, as others by the most ardent protestations. I was in the mood that holds every young man on the eve of a happy marriage. I could conceive of no bliss outside of that; and there was in the sound of Bolton's voice, as he spoke, a vibration of an intense pain which distressed me. "Bolton," I said, imploringly, "why will you sacrifice yourself and her? She loves you--you love her. Why not another marriage--another home?" His face quivered a moment, and then settled firmly. He smiled. "Hal, my boy," he said, "you naturally see nothing for man and woman but marriage just now. But it is not every man and woman who love each other who have the _right_ to marry. She does love me," he added, with a deep, inward breathing. "She is capable of all that magnanimity, all that generous self-sacrifice that make women such angels to us----" "Then, oh! why not----?" began I, eagerly. "_Because_ I LOVE her dearly, devotedly, I will not accept such a sacrifice. I will not risk her wrecking her life on me. The pain she feels now in leaving me will soon die out in the enthusiasm of a career. Yes, the day is now come, thank God, when a woman as well as a man can have some other career besides that of the heart. Let her study her profession--expand her mind, broaden her powers--become all that she can be. It will not impede her course to remember that there is in the world one friend who will always love her above all things; and the knowledge that she loves me will save me--if I am salvable." "_If_--oh, Bolton, my brother! _why_ do you say _if?_" "Because the danger is one I cannot comprehend and provide for. It is like that of sudden insanity. The curse may never return--pray God it may not--but if it should, at least I shall wreck no other heart." "Bolton, can you say so if there is one that loves you?"