ever suffer alone.

But a great love had been given him, and a force stronger than his will
impelled him to speak truth, even at the cost of losing it.

"Yes . . . I will tell you what it is," he said slowly, looking
straight before him. "You have the right to know."

And in a few blunt words, unsoftened by excuse or justification, he
told her, not the fact only, but his dread of its far-reaching effect.

"And it seems plain as daylight to me," he added bitterly, "that a man
so cursed has no right to multiply misery by taking a woman into his
life. That was the real reason why I kept clear of you latterly, and
tried to thank God that you did not care."

He could not trust himself to look round at her face, but he felt her
lean close to him again. For the unobtrusive strength of the man stood
revealed in his confession; and it is woman's second nature to admire
strength.

"Eldred, . . . my husband," she breathed, her voice breaking on the
word. "How cruelly you must have suffered! And it was all _my_ fault."

There spoke the woman!--intent upon the individual; blind--wilfully or
otherwise--to the larger issues involved.

"It was _not_ your fault," he answered with smothered vehemence. "And
in any case, don't you see, it's no question of blame, but of
consequences. And we dare not shut our eyes to them. For this
business of marriage is a complicated affair. What's more, I believe
the wrench of immediate separation, with the comparative freedom it
involves, would come less hard on you in the long-run, than actual
marriage with a man of my stamp.--Oh, you would find me a sorry bargain
all round, I assure you," he concluded with a short, hard laugh. "And
you will do well to think twice before you burn your boats for me!"

She slid lower down the slope, and laid one hand on his knee.

"I don't choose to think twice; and I _have_ burnt my boats as it is!
Besides . . . you will be strong to conquer your trouble, now you know
that all my happiness depends upon it." She paused for an appreciable
moment. "We seem to have changed places since that long-ago morning,
Eldred. It is I who want--to begin now--on any terms."

He put out his arm, and drew her very close to him.

"Feckless as ever!" he chided without severity. "You dismissed me on
an impulse; and now you would take me back again with the same
stupendous disregard for results. It is very evident you need some one
to look after you, and teach you