to them. I have conquered others by being
kind, but I have never had much kindness myself. Did I not conquer you,
sir, by being gentle and gracious to you? Ah, how kind I was to that
poor wretch, till he lost himself in drink! And then, Paul, I used to
think of better people, perhaps of softer people, of things that should
be clean and sweet and gentle,--of things that should smell of lavender
instead of wild garlic. I would dream of fair, feminine women,--of
women who would be scared by seeing what I saw, who would die rather
than do what I did. And then I met you, Paul, and I said that my dreams
should come true. I ought to have known that it could not be so. I did
not dare quite to tell you all the truth. I know I was wrong, and now
the punishment has come upon me. Well;--I suppose you had better say
good-bye to me. What is the good of putting it off?' Then she rose
from her chair and stood before him with her arms hanging listlessly
by her side.

'God bless you, Winifred!' he said, putting out his hand to her.

'But he won't. Why should he,--if we are right in supposing that they
who do good will be blessed for their good, and those who do evil
cursed for their evil? I cannot do good. I cannot bring myself now not
to wish that you would return to me. If you would come I should care
nothing for the misery of that girl,--nothing, at least nothing now,
for the misery I should certainly bring upon you. Look here;--will you
have this back?' As she asked this she took from out her bosom a small
miniature portrait of himself which he had given her in New York, and
held it towards him.

'If you wish it I will,--of course,' he said.

'I would not part with it for all the gold in California. Nothing on
earth shall ever part me from it. Should I ever marry another man,--as
I may do,--he must take me and this together. While I live it shall be
next my heart. As you know, I have little respect for the proprieties
of life. I do not see why I am to abandon the picture of the man I
love because he becomes the husband of another woman. Having once said
that I love you I shall not contradict myself because you have
deserted me. Paul, I have loved you, and do love you,--oh, with my very
heart of hearts.' So speaking she threw herself into his arms and
covered his face with kisses. 'For one moment you shall not banish me.
For one short minute I will be here. Oh, Paul, my love;--my love!'

All this to him was simply agony--though a