her
cheeks and a flash in her eyes, but there was that in her attitude
which held Alton at a distance. "If you were not the man you are, and
I was a little weaker, I should have said yes," she said. "As it
is--there is nothing that would induce me to marry you."

It was almost dark now, and Nellie Townshead could not see her
companion's face, but she was no longer careful to keep her own in the
shadow, even when the radiance from the stove flickered about the room.

"Will you not think it over?" he said very quietly. "I know how unfit
I am for you--and I am a cripple--but----"

The light was now more visible in Nellie Townshead's eyes, but her
voice was gentle. "No," she said, "There are two very good reasons why
it is impossible--and you know one of them. Now do you believe I do
not know what brought you here to-day?"

"I think I have been trying to tell you," said Alton sturdily. "If you
fancy it was anything else you are wrong."

The girl shook her head. "You are a good man, Harry Alton, but not a
clever one. Only that it would have been a wrong to you, you would
almost have persuaded me--by your silence chiefly. Still, you must go
away, and never speak of this again."

Alton stood still a moment glancing at her with pity and a great
admiration. The girl was good to look upon, he knew her courage, and
now as she flung all that he could offer her away and stood alone and
friendless with the world against her, but undismayed, all his heart
went out to her, and what he had commenced from duty he could almost
have continued from inclination.

"Please listen just a little, and I'll be quite frank," he said. "You
told me there were two reasons."

Possibly the girl read what was passing in his mind, for she smiled
curiously.

"I think you had better go--now--and leave me only a kindly memory of
you. Do you think I should be content to take--the second place?" she
said. "Nothing that you could tell me would remove one of the
obstacles, and you will be grateful presently. When that time comes be
wise, and don't ask for less than everything."

Alton said nothing further, and when his steps rang hollowly down the
stairway the girl sat down and sighed. Then she laughed a curious
little laugh and stopped to brush the tears from her eyes.

As it happened, while Nellie Townshead sat alone in the darkness Miss
Deringham was writing a note to Alton. Spoiled sheets of paper were
scattered about the table,