y expecting that
Maria would speak with him there, as usual. But she stepped back and
placed herself in his way.

"No," she said briefly.

"Why not?" he asked in quick surprise.

She raised her finger to her veiled lips, and then pointed to the other
door, to warn him that the portress was there and was almost within
hearing. With quick suspicion he understood that she was keeping him in
the antechamber to defend herself, that she had not been able to resist
the desire to see him once more, and that she intended this to be their
last meeting.

"Maria," he began, but he only pronounced her name, and stopped short,
for a great fear took him by the throat.

"Yes," she answered, in her calm, low voice. "I have made up my mind. I
will not go. God will perhaps forgive me what I have done. I will pray
for forgiveness. But I will not do more evil. I will not bring shame
upon my father's house, even for love of you."

Her voice trembled a little at the last words. Even veiled as she was,
the vital magnetism of the man was creeping upon her already. She had
resolved that she would see him once more, that she would tell him the
plain truth that was right, that she would bid him farewell, and
promise to pray for him, as she must pray for herself. But she had sworn
to herself that she would not speak of love. Yet with the first words
she spoke, the word and the vibration of love had come too. Her hands
disappeared in her sleeves, and her nails pressed the flesh in the
determination to be strong. She little guessed the tremendous argument
he had in store.

"It is hard to speak here," he said. "Let us go into the parlour."

She shook her head, and again moved backwards a step, so that her
shoulders were almost against the door.

"You must say what you have to say here," she answered after a moment's
pause, and she felt strong again. "For my part, I have spoken. May God
forget me in my utmost need if I go with you."

Dalrymple seemed little moved by the solemn invocation. It meant little
enough to him.

"I must tell you a short story," he replied quietly. "Unless I tell you,
you cannot understand. I have set my life upon your love, and I have
gone so far that I cannot save my life except by you--my life and my
honour. Will you listen to me?"

She nodded, and he heard her draw a quick breath. Then he began his
story, putting it together clearly, from the facts he knew, in very few
words. He told her how Annetta must have