ft a
hand. At last he gasped out, "If you marry him, you will bury me."

"No, Arthur," said Helen, gently; "I could not marry him, even if you
were to permit me. When you know more, you will see that, of us three
unhappy ones, you are the least unhappy. But, since this is so, am I
wrong to tell you the truth, and leave you to decide whether our
engagement ought to continue? Of course, what I have owned to you
releases you."

"Releases me! but it does not unbind my heart from yours," cried Arthur,
in despair.

Then his hysterical nature came out, and he was so near fainting away
that Helen sprinkled water on his temples, and applied eau-de-cologne to
his nostrils, and murmured, "Poor, poor Arthur! Oh, was I born only to
afflict those I esteem?"

He saw her with the tears of pity in her eyes, and he caught her hand,
and said, "You were always the soul of honor; keep faith with me, and I
will cure you of that unhappy attachment."

"What! Do you hold me to my engagement after what I have told you?"

"Cruel Helen! you know I have not the power to hold you."

"I am not cruel; and you have the power. But oh, think! For your own
sake, not mine."

"I have thought; and this attachment to a man you cannot marry is a mere
misfortune--yours as well as mine. Give me your esteem until your love
comes back, and let our engagement continue."

"It was for you to decide," said Helen, coldly, "and you have decided.
There is one condition I must ask you to submit to."

"I submit to it."

"What, before you hear it?"

"Helen, you don't know what a year of misery I have endured, ever since
the report came of your death. My happiness is cruelly dashed now, but
still it is great happiness by comparison. Make your conditions. You are
my queen, as well as my love and my life."

Helen hesitated. It shocked her delicacy to lower the man she had
consented to marry.

"Oh, Helen," said Arthur, "anything but secrets between you and me. Go on
as you have begun, and let me know the worst at once."

"Can you be very generous, Arthur?--generous to him who has caused you so
much pain?"

"I'll try," said Arthur, with a groan.

"I would not marry him, unless you gave me up. For I am your betrothed,
and you are true to me. I _could_ not marry him, even if I were not
pledged to you; but it so happens, I can do him one great service without
injustice to you; and this service I have vowed to do before I marry. I
shall keep that vow, as I kee