ou might want; but you
can hardly think that after what has passed I can wish to hear about
her."

"It was you spoke of her."

"I told you you should not be here,--because of her and because of
me. And I tell you again, I hate her. Do you think I can hear you
speak of her as though she were the only woman you had ever seen
without feeling it? Did you ever swear that you loved any one else?"

"Certainly, I have so sworn."

"Have you ever said that nothing could alter that love?"

"Indeed I have."

"But it is altered. It has all gone. It has been transferred to one
who has more advantages of beauty, youth, wealth, and position."

"Oh Mabel, Mabel!"

"But it is so."

"When you say this do you not think of yourself?"

"Yes. But I have never been false to any one. You are false to me."

"Have I not offered to face all the world with you?"

"You would not offer it now?"

"No," he said, after a pause,--"not now. Were I to do so, I should be
false. You bade me take my love elsewhere, and I did so."

"With the greatest ease."

"We agreed it should be so; and you have done the same."

"That is false. Look me in the face and tell me whether you do not
know it to be false!"

"And yet I am told that I am injuring you with Silverbridge."

"Oh,--so unmanly again! Of course I have to marry. Who does not know
it? Do you want to see me begging my bread about the streets? You
have bread; or if not, you might earn it. If you marry for money--"

"The accusation is altogether unjustifiable."

"Allow me to finish what I have to say. If you marry for money you
will do that which is in itself bad, and which is also unnecessary.
What other course would you recommend me to take? No one goes into
the gutter while there is a clean path open. If there be no escape
but through the gutter, one has to take it."

"You mean that my duty to you should have kept me from marrying all
my life."

"Not that;--but a little while, Frank; just a little while. Your
bloom is not fading; your charms are not running from you. Have you
not a strength which I cannot have? Do you not feel that you are a
tree, standing firm in the ground, while I am a bit of ivy that will
be trodden in the dirt unless it can be made to cling to something?
You should not liken yourself to me, Frank."

"If I could do you any good!"

"Good! What is the meaning of good? If you love, it is good to be
loved again. It is good not to have your heart torn in pieces