marry him. You know
that he would say that, Anthony."

"And he would be right. A chronic invalid should not marry, Betty. I
have great hope of his recovery. You and he must live on that hope a
little longer."

Bettina begged Diana to intercede, and that lovely lady, having claimed
Anthony for a twilight walk on the beach, began her plea.

But after the first words she found that she must deal not with the man
who loved her, but with the great Dr. Anthony.

"I shall certainly not allow it. I am not, of course, her legal
guardian, and so I cannot prevent it in that way. But I can tell
Justin."

"But she will not be happy without him, Anthony. If it were you, I
should marry you."

"I should not let you."

"You could not help it."

They faced each other--this strong man and this strong woman. With their
wills opposed, each seemed immovable. It was evident that only a great
depth of affection could bring harmony between their dominant natures.

Anthony, smiling at the earnestness of his beloved, did not yield an
inch. "These things are not to be decided by sentiment, dear. There are
meanings in marriage far beyond mere romance, far beyond the fate of the
two individuals who make the contract. We doctors must uphold the ideal
of physical perfection lest the race suffer. Moreover Bettina does not
know, she cannot know, what life would mean under such conditions. She
does not know her own strength, her own weakness. She must learn
something of life before she takes its heaviest burdens upon her. If in
the years to come she can sustain Justin by her friendship, let it be
that. She must not marry him."

"You--with your friendships, Anthony! Love cannot go back to
friendship."

She had seated herself on a stone bench which backed by a clump of
pines, commanded a wide view of the sea. He hesitated, wondering how he
might chase away the shadow which lay on her lovely face.

"Dear heart, we must not disagree about a thing which may right itself.
Tell Betty that, if she will be patient for a few weeks, I shall hope to
withdraw my opposition."

Her eyes did not meet his.

"Are you thinking that I am cruel, Diana?"

"No, oh, no. But your wisdom won't cure Betty's heartache."

"It may save her future heartaches."

"I wonder if a woman's point of view is ever a man's point of view,
Anthony?"

"Only when two people love each other very much, dear. Then each tries
to look at life through the other's eyes. We men wou