ise you to resign very soon if you wish it."

"I don't care," said Maria, still in the same lifeless tone. "I am
going away."

"Going where?"

"To Springfield. I don't know. Anywhere."

Wollaston leaned over her and spoke in a whisper. "Maria, do you want
me to take steps to have it annulled?" he asked. "It could be very
easily done. There was, after all, no marriage. It is simply a
question of legality. No moral question is involved."

A burning blush spread over Maria's face. She snatched her hand away
from his. "Do you think I could bear it?" she whispered back,
fiercely.

"Bear what?" asked the young man, in a puzzled tone.

"The publicity, the--newspapers. Nobody has known, not one of my
relatives. Do you think I could bear it?"

"I will keep the secret as long as you desire," said Wollaston. "I
only wish to act honorably and for your happiness."

"There is only one reason which could induce me to give my consent to
the terrible publicity," said Maria.

"What is that?"

"If--you wished to marry anybody else."

"I do not," said Wollaston, with a half-bitter laugh. "You can have
your mind easy on that score. I have not thought of such a thing as
possible for me."

Maria cast a look of quick interest at him. Suddenly she saw his
possible view of the matter, that it might be hard for him to forego
the happiness which other young men had.

"I would not shrink at all," she said, gently, "if at any time you
saw anybody whom you wished to marry. You need not hesitate. I am not
so selfish as that. I do not wish your life spoiled."

Wollaston laughed pleasantly. "My life is not to be spoiled because
of any such reason as that," he said, "and I have not seen anybody
whom I wished to marry. You know I have mother to look out for, and
she makes a pleasant home for me. You need not worry about me, but
sometimes I have worried a little about you, poor child."

"You need not, so far as that is concerned," cried Maria, almost
angrily. A sense of shame and humiliation was over her. She did not
love Wollaston Lee. She felt the same old terror and disgust at him,
but it mortified her to have him think that she might wish to marry
anybody else.

"Well, I am glad of that," said Wollaston. "I suppose you like your
work."

"Yes."

"After all, work is the main thing," said Wollaston.

"Yes," assented Maria, eagerly.

Wollaston returned suddenly to the original topic. "Were you actually
running away because you