you shall see
she will be for us. But if she should not, I warn you, Christine, I will
not give you up for any one alive."

"Listen to me," said Christine calmly. "This is what you must do. You
must go to your mother and tell her there is some one that you love.
Tell her as fully and freely as you choose. Convince her of the truth
and strength of it as thoroughly as you can, and tell her that woman
loves you in return, but has refused to marry you, for reasons which,
if she would like to hear them, that woman herself will lay before her.
I cannot let you do it for me," she went on earnestly. "I know you
would wish to spare me this, but only a woman's tongue could tell that
story of misery, and only a woman's heart could understand it. You think
she will love me for my misfortunes, as you have done in your great,
generous heart. I do not dare to think it, but I will put it to the
test. You must promise me to tell her nothing except just what I have
told you. Do you promise this?"

"I promise it, upon my honor; but remember, if my mother should decide
against me, I do not give you up."

"No, but I will give you up."

"Christine!" he cried. "And yet you say you love me!"

"Oh, yes, I say I love you--and you know whether it is true."

She stood in front of him and looked him firmly in the face, but the
look of her clear eyes was so full of crowding, overwhelming sorrow that
love, for a while, seemed to have taken flight.

In vain he tried to put his hopeful spirit into her. She only shook her
head and showed him a face of deep, unhoping sorrow.

"If your mother consents to see me, appoint an hour to-morrow morning
and let me know. I will take a carriage and go alone--"

"I will come for you. I will bring my mother's carriage--"

"No, I must go alone, and I prefer to go in a hired carriage. You must
see that no one else is present--neither of your sisters. It is to your
mother only that I can say what I have to say."

"Everything shall be as you wish. But, Christine, don't be hurt if you
find my mother's manner difficult, at first. She has had a great deal of
trouble, and it has made her manner a little hard--"

"Ah," she said, "I can understand that."

"But it is only her manner," Noel went on, "her heart is kind and true."

"Don't try to encourage me. I am not afraid. If she has known the face
of sorrow that is the best passport between us. Perhaps she will
understand me."

"Promise me this, Christine--t