appeal to Mr. Thorpe's
honour, decency, self-respect and love for you," she said, sullenly. "He
is quite as guilty as I, remember."

"He has quite a different object in view. He seems to feel that he is
doing me a good turn, not an evil one."

"Bosh!" She was angry. "And what will be your attitude toward me if you
_do_ succeed in preventing the marriage? Will you take me back as I was
before this thing came up? Will you make me your wife, just as if nothing
had happened? In view of my deliberate intention to deny you, will you
forget everything and take me back?"

He put his hand to his throat, and for a moment appeared to be struggling
against himself. "I will take you back, Anne, as if nothing had happened,
if you will say to me here and now that you will marry me to-morrow."

She stared at him, incredulous. Her heart began to beat rapidly once more
and the anger died away. "You would do that, knowing me to be what I am?"

"Knowing you to be what you _were_," he amended eagerly. "Oh, Anne, you
are worth loving, you are pure of heart and--"

"If I will marry you to-morrow?" she went on, watching his face closely.

"Yes. But you must say it now--this instant. I will not grant you a
moment's respite. If you do not say the word now, your chance is gone
forever. It has to be now, Anne."

"And if I refuse--what then?"

"I would not marry you if you were the only woman on earth," he said
flatly.

She smiled. "Are you sure that you love me, Braden?"

"I will love you when you become what you were,--a month ago," he said
simply. "A girl worth the honour of being loved," he added.

"Men sometimes love those who are not worth the honour," she said, feeling
her way. "They cannot help themselves."

"Will you say the word _now_?" he demanded hoarsely.

She sighed. It was a sigh of relief,--perhaps of triumph. He was safe for
all time. He would come to her in the end. She was on solid ground once
more.

"I am afraid, Braden, that I cannot play fast and loose with a man as old
as Mr. Thorpe," she said lightly.

He muttered an oath. "Don't be a fool! What do you call your treatment of
me? Fast and loose! Good Lord, haven't you played fast and loose with me?"

"Ah, but you are young and enduring," she said. "You will get over it. He
wouldn't have the time or strength to recover from the shock of--"

"Oh, for God's sake, don't talk like that! What do you call yourself?
What--" He checked the angry words and after a