Ethel limps, she is plain. Plain as I was when you adored my ugly face, my freckles. Does beauty kill love, or do men see beauty only where they love? Little brown partridges, little brown partridges-- The Bacillus is a cheat; every woman to her lover is the most beautiful! Ethel's good. You would have found me conspicuous, an annoyance among people who shrink from the extraordinary. I have been fond of Ethel. I was marrying you to get my debts paid--you knew that--but there was more. You must believe--you know there was more. I thought you loved me. Was that strange? How many times have you spoken to me of love? I wanted to show my gratitude, to make you happy, since happiness was not for me. I would have tried; I would have buried my own misery; buried everything but the sense of your goodness. I would have given you the co-operation of a clever woman. I would have given you the affection you know I have always felt. I would have worked, planned, compelled success for you. But that's over. Ethel is a dear child. I will not stand between you and Ethel. Don't pity me. I need no pity. I would endure yesterday and to-day a thousand times for the sake of the first hour of my beauty. Would I change now to be like Ethel, to be white putty like Milly--to have your love, or Ned's? Beauty--I can die with it sooner than drown it in tears. Don't tell Father. He will suffer; but less than if I went home to eat my heart out in repinings, to grow old and ugly, cursing the world. I have lived too long. I am already less beautiful. If I could destroy the secret! Death, leaving that behind, is crucifixion. But I was the first, I was the first! That dead face so gray and old--"Delilah!" it mows at me. I keep my promise! I haven't robbed you, you shall have your fame! I, too, I shall never be forgotten! John, take the secret. Keep my word for me. If you doubt the discovery, try it on an enemy. If you think my sorrow could have been avoided, offer the Bacillus as a wedding gift to--. Give Milly, who has Ned's love, my beauty? Would it turn him from her? If I thought it--But even for that, there shall be no other! It shall go first. Forever and forever my name, my face,-- "Delilah!" It grins, it gibbers. Wait for no tests. Print quick! To-morrow, to-day--it's almost day. Give him what he wants, John--"Delilah!" Why do you come back, dead face, dead eyes? Haven't I promised? You shall have print, type, a million circulation! Go away, you're dead! What's fame to youth, health, life? It's you who rob and kill. I won't look--I won't! If I wake Kitty, could she help? I won't look, I'm going mad! Gone! I must hurry. He might come back. Shall I leave the secret? It's life for life, we're even. If beauty were cheap, who'd care for it? It's death to be first, but afterwards--nothing! If I burned it--but no--I promised--. Why not?