“Yes,” she briefly answered, trying to speak coldly, even haughtily. “And you are totally indifferent to the wreck that you have made of me!” the young man vehemently cried, “for I tell you, Sadie Rochester, if I lose you, I am a wreck—a ruined man.” Her lip quivered, in spite of the effort which she made to retain her self-possession; but she replied in the same tone as before: “I do not consider that I am responsible——” “You are responsible,” he retorted hotly, “for you have made me love you; you have led me on, little by little, until my very life and sanity depend upon your smiles and your love. You have even confessed that you love me, and by that very confession you belong to me, rather than to my brother. You shall not marry him,” he concluded fiercely. “I swear, Sadie, that you shall never be his wife.” “Really, Mr. Winthrop, are you not arrogating to yourself an authority which you have no right to exercise?” the girl sarcastically demanded. “I believe that a woman of my age has the right to choose for herself in a matter of this kind.” “You have no right to choose Truman Winthrop for your husband when your heart belongs to me,” he returned through his tightly locked teeth. She knew herself that she had not—that she had no right to become another man’s wife, loving him with all the passion of her nature as she did. She grew very pale as she thought of the long, unloved future before her, and for a moment she could not answer him. But the die was cast; her ambition was stronger than her love. She longed for wealth and position, and she could not turn her back upon the brilliant prospects before her and marry simply for sentiment. Norman Winthrop was comparatively a poor man, and all her life poverty had been the one thing that she dreaded most, and so, right or wrong, she was determined to marry Truman Winthrop. “Do you forget how much depends upon this marriage?” she asked in a low tone; “do you forget that I not only deprive myself of great wealth, but your brother also of his rightful inheritance? Besides, I have pledged myself.” “How very considerate!” sneered the wretched man. “Do you imagine that True is so anxious to possess this fortune that he would insist upon marrying a loveless bride, especially when the ruin of his only brother hangs in the balance? O Sadie,” he went on, changing his tone to one of tender pleading, “for mercy’s sake—for love’s sake, do not violate your own conscience and every principle of right. Break this unnatural engagement and give yourself to me. I will work for you; if money and position are what you want, you shall have them. I will win them for you; my whole life shall be devoted to your happiness. Oh, my love—my love, I cannot give you up! Do not persist in ruining both your life and mine!” The girl felt that she could not bear much more; her lover’s suffering and despair unnerved her, and she was trembling so that she could scarcely stand.