“Still, you need not have turned away from me as you did, without a word. You might have given me a word, a smile, a look.” Rachel’s breath came quickly, her face softened, her eyes grew tender, and she whispered-- “I didn’t dare!” The words were an admission, and in a moment Gerard was close beside her, looking into her face, begging her not to play with him. “You love me, Rachel, you love me, and not this fellow! Why don’t you own it? Why can’t you throw him over, and tell him and everyone that you care for me, that you’re going to marry me? Don’t worry your head about your career, about money, about anything. I can’t make you rich at once, but I’m not quite a pauper even now. You will have to make some sacrifices, but they won’t be so hard. Your mother will not mind living in a smaller house, and your sister has had a year’s schooling, and Lady Jennings will take charge of her, and bring her out and all that. Even for your family there’s no need for you to sacrifice your own happiness any longer. Rachel, Rachel, say that you will cut yourself off from all these people whom you hate and whom you are afraid of, and make up your mind to be happy.” She was deeply moved by his passionate words, and her tears were falling fast. But she was steadfast, even in her sorrow. “I can’t,” she said. “You mustn’t ask me why, but I can’t. I know I’ve been selfish to ask you to come to speak to me, but I couldn’t let you go like that--thinking I was like a stone. I’m involved--too deeply to get free. There--that’s all I dare tell you. And now you had better try to forget me; it’s the only thing to do. I’ve thought it over, indeed, and I can’t get free, and I can’t move independently.” This admission passionately uttered, was a terrible shock to Gerard. “But what will the end be--it must have an end?” he asked quickly. She turned upon him a look of intense alarm. “An end! What do you mean?” He spoke out boldly-- “You don’t suppose it can go on forever? That the mystery will never be found out? That you can go on forever escaping by the skin of your teeth?” A faint smile, confident if not very happy, appeared on her features. “I’m in clever hands, very clever hands,” she said. “But the work revolts you! It’s horrible--shocking!” “Well, we won’t discuss that now. I’ve told you before all that I could tell you about it. There’s Arthur coming for me. I must go.” “One moment. Tell me honestly: would you give everything up and marry me, if you could?” She hesitated. “I don’t know whether I dare answer you truly; but I will--if you will promise to take no advantage of what I say.” “I promise.” “Well then, yes, I would throw over everything--if I could.” He touched her arm trembling and hoarse. “Now promise me just this, that you will make one appeal--one strong appeal--this week, at once, and try to get free; and let me know if you succeed. You will, if your heart is set on it, I know.” She shook her head drearily.