t trying to prove her truth; but Mary thought, now that he
knew her well and loved her well, he would take her in spite of all,
rather than give her up. But--could she let him take her in that way?

No matter how great his love, the question must creep into his mind
sometimes: "What if she is the woman Angelo thinks her? What if she has
made a fool of me?" Such thoughts, even though thrust out by him with
violence, must mingle poison with his happiness, and at last cloud the
brightness of his love. Besides, they two would have to live apart from
his people. If she were Vanno's wife, he and Angelo could not be
friends.

It began to seem, after all, as if there were no way out. Whether she
kept her word to Marie or broke it, as Marie deserved, never, it seemed,
could she and Vanno know untroubled happiness together. The music of
their love must at best be jarred by discords: and looking to the stars
behind the drifting clouds, Mary told herself with a bursting heart that
it would be kinder to break with Vanno now.

For a long time she sat at the table without moving, her chin in her
hands, her eyes always on the window. The fire of wood which Apollonia
had lighted died down to a heap of red-jewelled ashes. The room, long
unused and but superficially heated, became cold with the harsh,
relentless cold of a vault. Mary's body lost its warmth, and grew chill
as marble. When she was ready to write she could scarcely move her
hands, but she warmed her fingers by breathing upon them, and at last
began her letter to Vanno.

Dearest of all you will be to me forever [she wrote], but something
has happened which must part us. Your brother will explain, in his
way. It is not my way; but there are reasons why I must not explain
at all, except to say to you, dearest, that I am the Mary of your
love, not the Mary your brother thinks me. None of those things
which he will tell you, have I done. But I have thought a great
deal, and I have prayed to be wise for you, even more than for
myself. At first I felt I could not give you up; but now I see that
it will be better for us to part, rather than for me to take you
selfishly away from your family. You love me, I know, and this will
hurt you. I think you will say that I am wrong; but by and by you
will realize that what I do is for the best.

My only love, I want you to be happy, and so I ask you to forget
me. Not q