f as well. I can't take other people's judgments. When God
gave us our own, he did not mean us to shirk using it. What you say is
right, but there is something which after a little bit seems more
right--at least, which seems so to me. I cannot look at the future. I
can only see one thing distinctly, now in the present, and that is that
I cannot break my word. I never have been able to see that a woman's
word is less binding than a man's. When I said I would marry him, it was
of my own free-will. I knew what I was doing, and it was not only for
his sake I did it. It is not as if he believed I cared for him very
much. Then, perhaps--but he knows I don't, and--he is different from
other men--he does not seem to mind. I knew at the time that I accepted
him for the sake of other things, which are just the same now as they
were then: because he was poor and I had money; because I felt sure he
would never do much by himself, and I thought I could help him, and my
money would help too; because the people at Vandon are so wretched, and
their cottages are tumbling down, and there is no one who lives among
them and cares about them. I can't make it clear, and I did hesitate;
but at the time it seemed wrong to hesitate. If it seemed so right then,
it cannot be all wrong now, even if it has become hard. I cannot give it
all up. He is building cottages that I am to pay for, that I asked to
pay for. He cannot. And he has promised so many people their houses
shall be put in order, and they all believe him. And he can't do it. If
I don't, it will not be done; and some of them are very old--and--and
the winter is coming." Ruth's voice had become almost inaudible. "Oh,
Charles! Charles!" she said, brokenly, "I cannot bear to hurt you. God
knows I love you. I think I shall always love you, though I shall try
not. But I cannot go back now from what I have undertaken. I cannot
break my word. I cannot do what is wrong, even for you. Oh, God! not
even for you!"

She knelt down beside him, and took his clinched hands between her own;
but he did not stir.

"Not even for you," she whispered, while two hot tears fell upon his
hands. In another moment she had risen swiftly to her feet, and had left
him.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Charles sat quite still where Ruth had left him, looking straight in
front of him. He had not thought for a moment of following her, of
speaking to her again. Her decision was final, and he knew it. And now
he also knew