u have voiced the things
that were in my heart. I know you are right."

"Then, if you have confidence, do as I say, or you'll bitterly regret it.
As the mistress of Asherton Hall and all my money, you can have any man
you wish. Do you know what I'm worth?"

She made no answer.

"Come here." He beckoned again, and was about to whisper the amount, when
his mood changed. "No, no! Nobody shall know what I'm worth. They'll want
money out of me. They'll come around begging and borrowing and dunning.
The less I pay, the more I have. Go, write the letter, girl--write the
letter. Don't take any notice of me and my money. I'm an old man. You've
got all your life before you--one of the greatest heiresses in the
country! And I know a man who'll marry you for your money and love you as
well--or I'll know the reason why."

There was something strangely sympathetic between these two
widely-contrasted beings--the young, clear-brained, high-spirited girl
and the old misanthrope. She obeyed him as though mesmerized, and,
flinging down her muff, took off her gloves, and seated herself at the
writing-table. There was determination in every movement. The invalid
mumbled and chuckled with satisfaction from the depths of his pillows;
but she paid no further heed to him. With the first pen that came to
hand, she dashed off a curt note to Ormsby:

"DEAR VIVIAN, I cannot marry you, after all. It was all a mistake--a
mistake. My heart always was and always will be another's. Good-bye.
Don't come to see us any more. My decision is unalterable. It will
only cause us both pain. I am very, very sorry." Then, after a
thoughtful pause, she added, "I am going somewhere, right away, for
a long time."

Again, she paused thoughtfully, and Herresford made signs to her which
she could not see, signifying that he wished to see the letter.

"Let me read," he cried.

She handed him the letter as a matter of course, and he nodded
approvingly as he read.

"Now, then, my girl, I'll tell you a secret. Can you keep secrets?"

"I have always been able to."

"It's a big secret. How long could you keep a very big secret?"

"Quite as long as a little one."

"Then, bend down and I'll tell you." His face lighted up with amusement;
the ape-like features were transformed; the wrinkles of care and pain
wreathed into smiles.

"Can't you guess?" he asked, with a hoarse chuckle, and his shoulders
shook with suppressed mirth. "Bend lower." He graspe