Leo held out her hand, and Beryl took it between both hers.

“Dear Miss Gordon, grapes yield no wine until they are crushed, trampled, bereft of bloom, of rounded symmetry, of beautiful color; but the Lord of the Vineyard is entitled to His own.  I was a very proud, self-reliant girl, impatient of poverty, daringly ambitious; and what I deemed a cruel fate, threw me into the vat, to be trodden under foot.  It may be, that when the ferment ends, and time mellows all, the purple wine of my bruised and broken life may be accounted worthy the seal of a sacramental sacrifice.  I have ceased to question, to struggle, to plan.  Like a blind child, fearing to stumble into ruin, I stand, and stretch out my hands to Him, who has led me safely through deep waters, along frightful gorges.  Each day brings its work, which I strive worthily to accomplish; but my aim is to lay my heart, mind, soul, my stubborn will, all in God’s hands.  You think peace the summum bonum?  Sometimes we obtain it by an ignominious surrender, when we should possess it by conquest.  ’Peace of mind is a beautiful and heavenly thing; but even peace of mind may become an idol; and there is perhaps no idol to which women bow down more passionately.’  For this reason, I am waiting for the drum beat of duty, and my march may begin at any moment.  I asked to see you alone, in order to beg that you will increase my debt of obligations, by promising to reveal to no one the place of my retreat.  Accident has betrayed to you that which I am anxious to keep secret; and I trust you will tell no one where you met me.”

“Why should you hide, as though you were a culprit?  You have been so completely exonerated from the imputation of guilt which once hung over you, that you owe it to yourself to front the gaze of the world fearlessly.  What have you to dread?”

“The failure of something, which, though its accomplishment costs me very dear, I shall not relax my efforts to promote.  I am trying to be loyal to my duty, even when the command is to strangle my own weak heart.  You do not, cannot understand.  God grant you never will.  There are reasons why it is best for me to live in strict seclusion, for the present.  Those reasons I can explain neither to you, nor to any other human being; and yet, I ask you to respect them, and to keep my secret.  You trusted me in the terrible exigencies of the past; and you must trust me now, for—­oh!  God knows—­I do indeed deserve your confidence.”

She raised the hand folded in her own, and bowed her head upon it.

“You have my promise.  Without your permission, I will mention our meeting to no one.  I trust you; and perhaps if you would trust me, I might render you some aid.”

“The day may come, when I can find it compatible with duty to tell you the secret of my life.  In future years, when you are a happy wife, I shall by God’s help be able to seek you and your husband, and thank you both for many kindnesses.  I pray that you may be as happy as you deserve.”