d dear recollections, all pleading trumpet-tongued
against the summary dismissal of the unworthy lover. All the ineffably
sweet incidents of their love-life stretched themselves out in a vista
before her, and tempted her to reverse her decision. But she stayed her
purpose with repeating to herself:

"It will save untold misery hereafter to be firm now, and end a
connection at once that must be the worse for both of us every day that
it is allowed to continue."

There was a tap at the door, and Dr. Denslow entered.

The struggle had so shattered Rachel's self-control that she nervously
grasped the letter and thrust it into her pocket, as if the mere sight
of it would reveal to him the perturbation that was shaking her.

His quick eyes--quicker yet in whatever related to her--noticed her
embarrassment.

"Excuse me," he said with that graceful tact which seemed the very fiber
of his nature. "You are not in the mood to receive callers. I will go
now, and look in again."

"No, no; stay. I am really glad to see you. It is nothing, I assure
you."

She really wished very much to be alone with her grief, but she felt
somehow that to shrink from a meeting would be an evasion of the path
of duty she had marked out for her feet to tread. If she were going to
eliminate all thoughts of her love and her lover from her life, there
was no better time to begin than now, while her resolution was fresh.
She insisted upon the Doctor remaining, and he did so. Conscious that
her embarrassment had been noticed, her self-possession did not return
quickly enough to prevent her falling into the error of failing to
ignore this, and she confusedly stumbled into an explanation:

"I have received a letter from home which contains news that disturbs
me." This was as far as she had expected to go.

Dr. Denslow's face expressed a lively sympathy. "No one dead or
seriously ill, I trust."

"No, not as bad as that," she answered hastily, in the first impulse
of fear that she had unwarrantably excited his sympathy. "Nor is it
anything connected with property," she hastily added, as she saw
the Doctor looked inquiringly, but as though fearing that further
questioning might be an indelicate intrusion.

She picked nervously at the engagement ring which Harry had placed upon
her finger. It fitted closely, and resisted her efforts at removal. She
felt, when it was too late, that neither this nor its significance had
escaped Dr. Denslow's eyes.

"