will have no further
scruples listening to his story?"

"Yes, I have scruples. Much as I would like to hear it, I desire you to
tell me nothing but what you feel certain he would be willing for me to
hear. Otherwise I cannot look into his eyes without a feeling of guilt."

"I did not think there was such a ridiculously conscientious woman on the
earth. Believe me, you are formed after a very unusual pattern. But you
must at least hear my story; otherwise you cannot help me."

"I have been waiting with what patience I could command for the last hour
to hear it. I must be home before nightfall, and it is now approaching
sunset."

She turned partly away, thereby giving me the better opportunity to
admire the perfect contour of face and neck, with the color coming and
going fitfully as she talked.

"Like you," she said, "I was an orphan, and like you I was very rich."

I started with surprise. She looked at me in her keen, intuitive way.

"What! did you not know you were an heiress?"

"I have never had the curiosity to ask. Mr. Winthrop will explain
everything at the proper time."

"An old-fashioned woman, truly, patterned after the immortal Sarah, who
called Abraham her lord," she said, with a soft little laugh that angered
me exceedingly.

"The beginning of our destiny has been something alike--both orphans, and
both rich beyond our utmost need. I too was educated on the other side of
the sea, first in a quiet little English town, Weston-Super-Mer, where my
grandmother lived, and afterward in Paris. If I had never gone to the
latter place, I might not be sitting here compelling a scrupulous
listener to hear my story."

She was silent awhile, a half-suppressed sigh escaping her, over these
bygone memories. She continued her story:

"I was quick to learn, soon acquiring the accomplishments necessary for a
woman of the world to know; and, finding my guardian easy to manage, I
escaped from the restraints of the school-room much earlier than is
usual, and plunged into the gayeties, first of Parisian, and afterward of
New York society. I became a belle from my first ball, and was soon
almost wearied with conquests that caused me no effort. One evening I met
Mr. Winthrop. My chaperone, the following day, gave me a detailed history
of himself and fortune, and recommended me to secure him for a husband.
I resolved to bring him to my feet, reserving the privilege of accepting
or not, as I chose. I subsequently found,