“I believe you think so, but I cannot think it will prove the best for any one.  It is not what I expected or even imagined.  You are acting from a mistaken sense of duty, and I am more sorry every day that you can commit such an error.  Look at it in its true light, Stella.  I cannot believe you are deceiving me:  you must be leading Mr. Arnault to entertain a false hope.”

“Graydon, I have refused Mr. Arnault, and he will take no refusal.”

“You can refuse him in such a way that he must take it at once and forever.”

“You don’t know—­” she began, tears coming into her eyes.

“No; you have only led me to surmise a great deal by implication.”

“What would become of mamma and my little sister if papa should fail utterly?” and tears came faster.  No one could be more pathetic than Miss Wildmere when she chose.

“Can you not trust me for them as well as for yourself?”

“Oh, Mr. Muir, I know you mean most generously and kindly, but papa is so anxious and fearful!  He tries to keep up before others, but I know how he feels, and it’s terrible.  He is past middle age, and business success means very much to him.  How can I do anything to harm him?  I know so little about business and its perils, while papa thinks there may be terrible dangers ahead for every one.  You might have the good-will to help us and yet soon be scarcely able to help yourself.  I have been made to feel that the best I could do through these troublous times was to try to aid papa as far as possible, and then I shouldn’t have anything with which to reproach myself.”

Graydon was perplexed.  Apparently she was doing wrong in the most self-sacrificing spirit, and believed that doing right, which would end her abnegation, was wrong and selfish.

While he hesitated, she resumed:  “You see, Graydon, papa has the same as said that Mr. Arnault was tiding him over until he could realize on securities now of little value.  Of course there has been no compromising understanding in words—­do not think us capable of that.  It would cut me to the heart to have you misjudge me or condemn me.  I will give you the highest proof I can of my—­my—­esteem by being frank on a delicate subject, so that you can see how I am placed.  I don’t think many young ladies would do as much.  Of course what I say is sacred between us.  Mr. Arnault offered himself long since, and I promptly declined the honor, but he laughingly told me he would take no refusal, and chatted through the rest of the evening as pleasantly as if nothing had happened.  I have virtually refused him several times since, but he persists, declaring that he will remain an agreeable friend until I change my mind.  Surely, I am not misleading him.  I do like him as a friend, and he knows that I have for him no other regard, and never had.  Before you came he had begun to help papa, and to throw business in his way, and just now he is rendering him very great service.  He may