"Do I look at all like my old self?" she asked him, and he answered almost bluntly: "No." In the next breath he went on in a kind of passionate despair: "Oh, Lina, you were so beautiful, and I loved your beauty so well. It almost kills me to see how utterly you have lost it." "Did you prize my poor beauty so much?" she inquired, with a faint sigh. She read his answer in the anguished eyes he turned upon her face. She saw that in losing her peerless beauty she had lost her charm for him. After a moment she said, gently and gravely: "The physicians believe that my face is spoiled forever, Walter. They are not sure but the shock and the illness have ruined my voice, also. How could you bear to have a wife whom you must always pity for her misfortunes, but could never worship for her fairness?" He did not answer, but Jaquelina saw that the words had touched a tender spot in his heart. He bit his lips beneath his fair mustache, and an anxious gleam came into his blue eyes. "I have been looking at my poor marred face in the glass," she went on, in her low, sad voice, "and I came to the conclusion that no one could ever love me any more. It is not fair to hold you to your promise now. I will give you back your freedom, Walter, if you will accept it from me." "Lina!" She scarcely understood whether it was relief or reproach that quivered in his quick exclamation. "It shall be just as you wish," she said, quickly. "If you claim my promise, I am yours. If I have lost your love in losing my beauty, you are free." "Lina, would it pain you if I take you at your word?" he asked in a low, abashed voice. "No," she answered, with gentle frankness. "You would not despise me?" he asked, anxiously, without looking at her. "No," she said again. He looked at her a moment, half irresolute. "Do not fear to express your preference," she said, gently. "Either way I stand willing to abide by the consequences." "Then, Lina, since you are so generous, I will take my freedom," he blurted out, looking away from her, very red and ashamed. "I am unworthy of you, my dear. I see now that it was only your beauty that held me in thrall. Can you forgive me for being so weak and shallow?" "I am not angry with you, Mr. Earle," she replied, gently. "Most men would have felt the same--would they not?" but in her heart she felt that there was one, at least, whose fealty would not have faltered. "Yes, most men would, I think," he replied, and when he had made Lina promise that she would still remain his friend, he went away to tell Violet what had occurred. "It was a weak and shallow love after all," she mused, when she was thus left alone by her recreant lover. "I am glad he has found it out in time, and I am--oh, so glad that I need not marry Walter Earle."