She was growing strangely white, and her breath fluttered, but eyes and lips came to the rescue with a steadfast smile.

“You allow me no alternative but submission to your will; yet remember, dear Leo, that in surrendering your pledged faith, I hold myself as free from any intentional forfeiture, as on the day you gave me your promise.”

“In token that I believe it, I salute and wear your roses.”

She bent her head, touched with her lips the flowers at her throat, and smiling bravely, held out both hands.  He took them, joined the palms, and kissed her softly, reverently on the forehead.

“God bless you, dear Leo.  To have known so intimately a nature as noble and exalted as yours, has left an indelible impression for good upon my life, which must henceforth be very kinely.  Good-bye.”

With beat of drum, and blare of bugles, pride claimed the victory; but as Leo watched the tall, fine form pass out from the beautiful home she had fondly hoped to share with him, she clasped her hands across her lips to stifle the cry that told how dearly she had bought the semblance of triumph.

When the quick echo of his horse’s hoofs died away, she went swiftly to her writing desk.

“Dear Uncle:  Please send the enclosed telegram to Mr. Cutting.  I had a sad but decisive interview with Mr. Dunbar, and after obtaining his consent to my tour, we thought it best to annul our engagement.  Tell Aunt Patty, and spare me all questions.  I have not been hasty, and I asked to be released, because I have deemed it best to leave him entirely free.”

Sealing the note she rang for Justine.

“Take this to my uncle’s study, and tell Andrew to bring my phaeton to the door at four o’clock.  Until then, see that no one disturbs me.”

With averted face she held out the envelope, then the curtain fell; and in solitude the aching heart went over the fatal field, silently burying its slain hopes, realizing the bitterness of its Cadmean victory.

CHAPTER XXII.

Certainly, Prince, I understand your motives and applaud your decision, which is creditable alike to your heart and head.  At father’s death he confided Kittie to my guardianship, and I cannot consent to her scheme of going abroad with you, until your studies have been completed.  She has a few thousands, it is true, but her slim fortune would not suffice to accomplish your scientific object, and even if it were larger, you are quite right to decline with thanks’.  Kittie must be patient, and you must be firm, for you are both quite young enough to afford to wait a few years.  Loving little heart!  She longed to aid you, and this was the only method that presented itself.  If we can secure the commission I mentioned last week, your marriage need only be deferred until Kittie is twenty-one.  After all, Prince, when you bartered your name and became a Darrington, for sake of this fair heritage, you only accomplished early in life that into which sooner or later all men are betrayed, the sale of a birthright for a mess of pottage; the clutching at the shadowy present, thereby losing the substantial future.”