im
from a cruel disenchantment by raising yourself to the level he fancies
you have attained. This will cost you an effort, and the effort will do
you good, whether it fail or succeed. As for him, he will find his
just level in your estimation if your thoughts reach high enough to
comprehend him at that level."

Gertrude moved impatiently.

"What!" he said quickly. "Are my long-winded sacrifices to the god of
reason distasteful? I believe I am involuntarily making them so because
I am jealous of the fellow after all. Nevertheless I am serious; I want
you to get married; though I shall always have a secret grudge against
the man who marries you. Agatha will suspect me of treason if you don't.
Erskine will be a disappointed man if you don't. You will be moody,
wretched, and--and unmarried if you don't."

Gertrude's cheeks flushed at the word jealous, and again at his mention
of Agatha. "And if I do," she said bitterly, "what then?"

"If you do, Agatha's mind will be at ease, Erskine will be happy, and
you! You will have sacrificed yourself, and will have the happiness
which follows that when it is worthily done."

"It is you who have sacrificed me," she said, casting away her
reticence, and looking at him for the first time during the
conversation.

"I know it," he said, leaning towards her and half whispering the
words. "Is not renunciation the beginning and the end of wisdom? I have
sacrificed you rather than profane our friendship by asking you to share
my whole life with me. You are unfit for that, and I have committed
myself to another union, and am begging you to follow my example, lest
we should tempt one another to a step which would soon prove to you how
truly I tell you that you are unfit. I have never allowed you to roam
through all the chambers of my consciousness, but I keep a sanctuary
there for you alone, and will keep it inviolate for you always. Not even
Agatha shall have the key, she must be content with the other rooms--the
drawing-room, the working-room, the dining-room, and so forth. They
would not suit you; you would not like the furniture or the guests;
after a time you would not like the master. Will you be content with the
sanctuary?" Gertrude bit her lip; tears came into her eyes. She looked
imploringly at him. Had they been alone, she would have thrown herself
into his arms and entreated him to disregard everything except their
strong cleaving to one another.

"And will you keep a corne