im?--so young, so fresh, so true--so different from any
one I have ever met in my unhappy life! What does it matter that I am
older--what has age to do with it, when two people care for each other!"

"Ah, I will grant you that," returned Malcolm slowly.

"I shall make him a good wife," she went on, "and in the years to come
the old wounds will be healed, and I shall forget the terrible past.
Oh," recalling herself with difficulty, "why am I talking to you like
this, and I have never even heard Miss Templeton's message." Then
Malcolm sat down beside her and gently repeated Dinah's words.

"'Tell her from me that if she persists in marrying my poor boy, she
will be marrying a pauper; that on the day the marriage takes place I
shall alter my will, and that my sister Elizabeth will be my heir. Tell
her this, and I will write to Cedric.'"

There was no answer to this; but he could feel the tremor that passed
through her. "She has written," he went on, "and by this time Cedric
has her letter. Miss Jacobi, if you love this poor lad, how can you
have the heart to ruin him? Be generous, be merciful, and set him
free!" Then she turned upon him almost fiercely.

"Generous! merciful!--and who has ever shown me mercy! When my own
flesh and blood have traded on my beauty--my hateful beauty--and sold
me without pity or remorse. And now," still more passionately, "you and
his people want to come between me and happiness. You wish me to give
him up, but I cannot--I will not. I am not marrying him for Miss
Templeton's money," she continued indignantly, "but for himself, and
because we love each other. It is Saul who thinks of the money; but he
will not believe that message--he knows she will not do it. Her sister
Elizabeth is rich--rich, and we should be so poor."

"You are wrong, Miss Jacobi, she will do it. Miss Templeton is gentle
and loving, but she is very firm. It is possible--nay, probable--that
she would continue Cedric's allowance, but in the event of this
marriage he will have nothing more from her."

"Do you mean that she would let him starve?"

"I mean that he would have to work for his bread as other men have to
work, and that his whole life, and yours too, will probably be a
failure. Miss Jacobi, I entreat you to listen to me for a few
moments--I am speaking for your good as well as his. May I tell you
what I think?" She made a movement of assent. Malcolm never could
recollect afterwards what he said to her; but his