said of me. I set myself like a rock against
her. I have made her sick, and if she died, I should be her murderer!"

He put his arms round her, and folded her to his heart. "Oh, my love, my
love, my love!" he lamented and exulted over her.

She did not try to resist; she let her arms hang at her side; she said,
"Is _this_ the way we keep our word?--Already!"

"Our word was made to be broken; we must have meant it so. I'm glad we
could break it so soon. Now I can truly help you; now that you are to be
my wife."

She did not gainsay him, but she asked, "What will you think when you
know--you must have known that I used to care for some else; but he
never cared for me? It ought to make you despise me; it made me despise
myself! But it is true. I did care all the world for him, once. _Now_
will you say--"

"Now, more than ever," said the young man, silencing her lips with his
own, and in their trance of love the world seemed to reel away from
under their feet, with all its sorrows and shames, and leave them in
mid-heaven.

"Suzette!" Adeline's voice called from within. "Suzette! Where are you?"

Sue released herself, and ran into the cottage. She came out again in a
little while, and said that the doctor thought Adeline had better go to
bed for a day or two and have a thorough rest, and relief from all
excitement. "We mustn't talk before her any more, and you mustn't stay
any longer."

He accepted the authority she instinctively assumed over him, and found
his dismissal already of the order of things. He said, "Yes, I'll go at
once. But about--"

She put a card into his hand. "You can see Mr. Putney, and whatever you
and he think best, will _be_ best. Haven't you been our good angel ever
since--Oh, I'm not half good enough for you, and I shouldn't be, even if
there were no stain--"

"Stop!" he said; he caught her hand, and pulled her toward him.

The doctor came out, and said in a low voice, "There's nothing to be
anxious about, but she really must have quiet. I'll send Mrs. Morrell
down to see you, after tea. She's quiet itself."

Suzette submitted, and let Matt take her hand again in parting.

"Will you give me a lift, doctor, if you're going toward town?"

"Get in," said the doctor.

Sue went indoors, and the two men drove off together.

Matt looked at the card in his hand, and read: "Mr. Putney: Please talk
to Mr. Hilary as you would to my sister or me." Suzette's printed name
served for signature. M