got the chance that she will want in the world."

"But I love her. She's going to marry me in the Spring."

The Bishop was surprised. He had not thought matters had gone so far.

"How old are you?" he asked thoughtfully.

"Twenty in April."

"You have some education?" the Bishop suggested. "You have been at
school?"

"Just what Tom Lansing taught me and Ruth. And last Winter at the
Academy in Lowville. I was going to Albany to law school next week."

"And you are giving it all up for Ruth," said the Bishop incisively.
"Does it hurt?"

The boy winced, but caught himself at once.

"It don't make any difference about that. I want Ruth."

"And Ruth? What does she want?" the Bishop asked. "You are offering to
make a sacrifice for her. You are willing to give up your hopes and
work yourself to the bone here on these hills for her. And you would
be man enough never to let her see that you regretted it. I believe
that. But what of her? You find it hard enough to give up your chance,
for her, for love.

"Do you know that you are asking her to give up her chance, for
nothing, for less than nothing; because in giving up her chance she
would know that she had taken away yours, too. She would be a good and
loving companion to you through all of a hard life. But, for both your
sakes, she would never forgive you. Never."

"You're asking me to give her up. If she went out and got a start,
she'd go faster than I could. I know it," said the boy bitterly.
"She'd go away above me. I'd lose her."

"I am not asking you to give her up," the Bishop returned steadily.
"If you are the man I think you are, you will never give her up. But
are you afraid to let her have her chance in the sun? Are you afraid
to let her have what you want for yourself? Are you afraid?"

The boy looked steadily into the Bishop's eyes for a moment. Then he
turned quickly and walked across the room to where Ruth sat.

"I can't give it up, Ruth," he said gruffly. "I'm going to Albany to
school. I can't give it up."

The girl looked up at him, and said quietly:

"You needn't have tried to lie, Jeff; though it's just like you to put
the blame on yourself. I know what he said. I must think."

The boy stood watching her eyes closely. He saw them suddenly light
up. He knew what that meant. She was seeing the great world with all
its wonderful mysteries beckoning her. So he himself had seen it. Now
he knew that he had lost.

The Bishop had put on his co