ll you the truth,--but I
can't,--I _can't_! I--I love you too much!"

"You've answered me!" cried Van Reypen, his eyes shining with gladness,
"if you love me,--nothing else matters! And you can't love me 'too
much'! I want all there is of your love,--your dear love! Is it really
mine?"

"It's really yours, as far as it's in my power to give it,--but,"
and Azalea's face grew very sad, "I can't give it to you,--out of
consideration of your rights. I can't love you, Philip, I mustn't
let myself even think of it!"

"Don't talk nonsense, you blessed child,--you've settled it all when you
say you love me! Oh, Azalea, I'm _so_ glad, and proud and happy!"

Azalea gave a start as his arms closed round her. "No!" she cried, "no,
dear, don't! oh, please don't!"

"Why, darling? Why mayn't I caress my own love,--my promised wife?"

"Oh, no,--I'm not! I can never be your wife! I'm--I'm not worthy!"

"Hush!" and Van Reypen closed her lips with a tender kiss. "Hush,
Azalea, never use the words worthy or unworthy between us. Our love
makes us worthy of each other, whatever we may be otherwise."

"Stop,--please stop! Every word you say makes it harder! I can't stand
it! It's too dreadful. Let me go,--oh, _please_, let me go!"

Shuddering as with some great fear, Azalea slipped from his arms and ran
away. He heard her steps as she went upstairs, and heard a door
close,--evidently she had flown to her own room.

Greatly perplexed, Phil went in search of Patty.

"Help me out," he said, in a low tone. "Azalea has gone to her room,
and there is certainly something troubling her. Go to her, Patty,--find
out what it all means,--and if it is any foolishness about 'unworthiness'
or that rubbish, try to make her see that I want her just as she is. I
don't care a hang about her ancestors or her father or anything in the
whole world, but just Azalea Thorpe!"

Patty looked at his earnest face, and honestly rejoiced that he had
found a girl he could care for like that.

"I'll go, Phil," she said, "and I'll bring that young woman to reason!
It isn't only coyness,--that isn't Azalea's way,--but she is honestly
troubled about something."

But though Patty knocked on Azalea's locked door several times, she
heard no response.

"Please let me in, Zaly," she begged, "I just want to talk to you a
little."

Still no reply, and then, after exhausting all other arguments, Patty
said, "Won't you let me in for Phil's sake? He sent me."

That