ave hesitated for a moment. Dearly as he loved
Audrey--and what that love was only he himself knew--he would have
refused to marry her. He would have separated himself from her utterly,
and at once.

Michael's strong, long-suffering nature would have carried him nobly
through such an ordeal. He was a man who would have acted up to the
spirit of the Gospel command 'to pluck out the offending eye, or to cut
off the right hand;' there would have been no parleying, no weak
dalliance with temptation.

'I love you, but it is my duty to leave you, so farewell for
ever!'--that is what he would have said to her, knowing all the time
that life would be utterly joyless to him. Would Cyril, in his hot,
untried youth, be capable of a like generosity, or would he cleave to
his betrothed with passionate, one-sided fealty, vowing that nothing on
earth should separate them as long as they two loved each other?

'They will make her give me up!'--that was all he had said. That seemed
to be the one deadly terror that assailed him.

Cyril had turned away with a groan when Michael spoke, but he made no
audible answer, and the next moment his hand was on the door.

'Where are you going, Blake?' inquired Michael anxiously.

It was impossible to keep him, and yet, how could he let him leave him
in such a condition?

'I must get away from here!' returned Cyril hoarsely. 'I must be alone
somewhere.'

And Michael understood him.

'Let me at least walk with you,' he returned quickly. 'You might meet
someone, and perhaps I may be of use. Do not refuse; I will not speak to
you.' And, as Cyril made no objection--indeed, it was doubtful whether
he even heard what Michael said--he followed him downstairs.

Just as they reached the hall the drawing-room door opened, and, before
he could warn Cyril, Audrey came out. She had some music in her hand.
She uttered an exclamation of surprise and pleasure when she saw them.

'Michael, I thought you were lost. What have you been doing with
yourself all day? Were you going out with Cyril? Please don't go just
yet; it is just beginning to rain, and I want him to practise this duet
with me. Will you?' looking up in Cyril's face with one of her bright
smiles.

'I cannot; another time. Please do not keep me!'

Cyril hardly knew what he said. He pushed by her as she stood there
smiling, with the music in her hand, and went out bareheaded into the
rain and darkness.

Audrey looked bewildered.

'What