"Let me persuade you out of it, dearest. Let me overbear the whim." He took her hand in his, drew off the glove, and reverently pressed his lips upon the fingers, while she stood looking listlessly and sadly in his face. He took the engagement-finger and attempted to slip on the ring without more ado; but at the touch of it Rose started and drew away her hand with a shrinking cry, while Joseph strove to retain it, and still attempted to slip on the ring. "It must not be, at least not yet a while, Joseph. I have something which I must tell you, that will make a difference between us. It would be unfair to you not to tell you in time, what may influence your feelings with regard to an engagement between us. And meanwhile, I give you back your promise, that you may be free to do as you will, after you have heard me." "You shall not give it back, Rose. I will not accept it. And more, I hold _you_ to your promise still. Nothing which you can tell me will induce me to give you back yours." "Not if you heard dreadful things against me?" "I would not believe them. I know you too well for that. What do you take me for?" "I take you for a noble-minded man. It is that which troubles me. I am not worth your caring for." "You are my own, a part of my very self." "You would not say so if you knew--that I have been married before!--if you were told that I am a divorced woman!" "I would not believe them." "But it is true." "What a villain the man must have been!--what a fool!--to cast away the flower he was unworthy to have worn! But, my poor darling, if this is so, you have the deeper need of my protecting care." "But it was I who divorced--him!" "You have been cruelly used, then. Ah, what you must have suffered! It shall be all the more my care to make you forget your unhappiness. Forget it you shall. Let's say no more about it." "But I must. You do not know how poor a thing you have anchored your heart to--how fickle and headstrong and vain a creature I have been! I petitioned for a divorce from my husband." "And you got it. Is not that a proof that you were in the right?--when the law granted your demand? What you must have come through! But it shall be mine to make you forget." "He--filed no rejoinder, as they call it He let the law take its course." "He did not, because he could not. The law has relieved you from an unworthy mate. Forget it, my poor darling. Forget _him_. We have the future before us. Forget all the past." "He refused to plead; but I am not so sure that he could not have pleaded successfully if he had chosen to do it. My petition was an outrage to him." "Do not think it. A woman is not driven to take such a step without sufficient grounds." "That is what the judge said; but--ah me!--I do not know." "What has called up these morbid fancies in your mind, Rose? You were cheerful an hour ago."