“It is _this_, that I don’t believe he did it of his own free will. Now, supposing he did it _against_ his will, merely to satisfy my scruples, would not his claim on me remain just as strong as ever? And would not my promise be as binding as ever? My father says ‘no’; but I ca’n’t help fearing he is biased by his love for me. And I’ve asked no one else. I have many friends—friends for the bright sunny weather; not friends for the clouds and storms of life; not _old_ friends like you!” “Let me think a little,” I said: and for some minutes we walked on in silence, while, pained to the heart at seeing the bitter trial that had come upon this pure and gentle soul, I strove in vain to see my way through the tangled skein of conflicting motives. “If she loves him truly,” (I seemed at last to grasp the clue to the problem) “is not _that_, for her, the voice of God? May she not hope that she is sent to him, even as Ananias was sent to Saul in his blindness, that he may receive his sight?” Once more I seemed to hear Arthur whispering “_What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?_” and I broke the silence with the words “If you still love him truly——” “I do _not_!” she hastily interrupted. “At least—not in _that_ way. I _believe_ I loved him when I promised; but I was very young: it is hard to know. But, whatever the feeling was, it is dead _now_. The motive on _his_ side is Love: on _mine_ it is—Duty!” Again there was a long silence. The whole skein of thought was tangled worse than ever. This time _she_ broke the silence. “Don’t misunderstand me!” she said. “When I said my heart was not _his_, I did not mean it was any one else’s! At present I feel bound to _him_; and, till I know I am absolutely free, in the sight of God, to love any other than him, I’ll never even _think_ of any one else—in _that_ way, I mean. I would die sooner!” I had never imagined my gentle friend capable of such passionate utterances. I ventured on no further remark until we had nearly arrived at the Hall-gate; but, the longer I reflected, the clearer it became to me that no call of Duty demanded the sacrifice—possibly of the happiness of a life—which she seemed ready to make. I tried to make this clear to _her_ also, adding some warnings on the dangers that surely awaited a union in which mutual love was wanting. “The only argument for it, worth considering,” I said in conclusion, “seems to be his supposed _reluctance_ in releasing you from your promise. I have tried to give to that argument its _full_ weight, and my conclusion is that it does _not_ affect the rights of the case, or invalidate the release he has given you. My belief is that you are _entirely_ free to act as _now_ seems right.”