me. I have no delusions
now. I'll never be well again--and you must know it."

"Oh yes, you will! Don't give up! You're only tired to-day. You're
really much better than you were last week."

"No, I'm not! Let us not deceive ourselves any longer. The change of
climate has not done me good. We waited too long. It has all been a
mistake. Let me go back to Chester--I'm afraid to die out here. I can't
bear the thought of being buried in this soil. It's so bleak and lonely
and alien. I want to go back to the sweet, kindly hills--perhaps I can
reconcile myself to death there--to sink into the earth on this plain is
too dreadful."

He struggled against the weight of her sorrowful pleadings. "This is
only a mood, dearest; you are over-tired and things look black to you--I
have such days--everybody has these hours of depression, but we must
fight them. It would be so much better for us both if I were your
husband, then I could be with you and watch over you every hour. I could
help you fight these dismal moods. It would be my hourly care. Come,
let's go out and seriously set to work to find a cottage."

She was silenced for the moment, but when he had finished his
counter-plea she looked up at him with deep-set glance and quietly said:
"Ben, it's all wrong. It was wrong from the very beginning. You are
lashing yourself into uttering these beautiful words, and you do not
realize what you are saying. I am too old for you--Now listen--it's
true! I'm twenty years older in spirit. I haven't been really well for
ten years. You talk of fighting this. Haven't I fought? I've danced when
I should have been in bed. I've had a premonition of early decay for
years--that's why I've been so reckless of my strength. I couldn't bear
to let my youth pass dully--and now it's gone! Wait!--I've deceived you
in other ways. I've been full of black thoughts, I've been jealous and
selfish all along. You deserve the loveliest girl in the world, and it
is a cruel shame for me to stand in the way of your happiness just to
have you light my darkness for a few hours. I know what you want to
say--you think you can be happy with me. Ben, it's only your foolish
sense of honor that keeps you loyal to me--I don't want that--I won't
have it! Take back your pledge." She pushed away from him and twisted a
ring from her finger. "Take this, dear boy, you are absolutely free. Go
and be happy."

He drew back from her hand in pain and bewilderment. "Alice, you are