ad said had been
of no avail?--that he also loved so well that he was willing to
change the whole course of his life and become another person for the
sake of her? If it were so, she would not say a word that could by
possibility make him think that she was afraid. She would feel her
way carefully, so that he might not be led by a chance phrase to
imagine that what she was about to say was said on her own behalf.
She would be very careful, but at the same time she would be so
explicit that there should be no doubt on his mind but that he had
her full permission to retire from the engagement if he thought it
best to do so. She was quite ready to share the burthens of life with
him, let them be what they might; but she would not be a mill-stone
round his neck. At any rate, he should not be weighted with the
mill-stone, if he himself looked upon a loving wife in that light.

"She has not caused me to change my mind at all, Walter. Of course I
know that all this is very serious. I knew that without Aunt Sarah's
telling me. After all, Aunt Sarah can't be so wise as you ought to
be, who have seen India and who know it well."

"India is not a nice place to live in--especially for women."

"I don't know that Loring is very nice;--but one has to take that as
it comes. Of course it would be nicer if you could live at home and
have plenty of money. I wish I had a fortune of my own. I never cared
for it before, but I do now."

"Things don't come by wishing, Mary."

"No; but things do come by resolving and struggling. I have no doubt
but that you will live yet to do something and to be somebody. I have
that faith in you. But I can well understand that a wife may be a
great impediment in your way."

"I don't want to think of myself at all."

"But you must think of yourself. For a woman, after all, it doesn't
matter much. She isn't expected to do anything particular. A man
of course must look to his own career, and take care that he does
nothing to mar it."

"I don't quite understand what you're driving at," said the Captain.

"Well;--I'm driving at this: that I think that you are bound to
decide upon doing that which you feel to be wisest without reference
to my feelings. Of course I love you better than anything in the
world. I can't be so false as to say it isn't so. Indeed, to tell the
truth, I don't know that I really ever loved anybody else. But if it
is proper that we should be separated, I shall get over it,--in a