“Dearest, I know now why you are not wearing my mother’s ring,” said Gale, steadily and low-voiced.

“Dick, I am not worthy,” she replied, and held out a trembling hand with the ring lying in the palm.

Swift as light Gale caught her hand and slipped the ring back upon the third finger.

“Nell!  Look at me.  It is your engagement ring....Listen.  I don’t believe this—­this thing that’s been torturing you.  I know it’s a lie.  I am absolutely sure your mother will prove it a lie.  She must have suffered once—­perhaps there was a sad error—­but the thing you fear is not true.  But, hear me, dearest; even if it was true it wouldn’t make the slightest difference to me.  I’d promise you on my honor I’d never think of it again.  I’d love you all the more because you’d suffered.  I want you all the more to be my wife—­to let me make you forget—­to—­”

She rose swiftyly with the passionate abandon of a woman stirred to her depths, and she kissed him.

“Oh, Dick, you’re good—­so good!  You’ll never know—­just what those words mean to me.  They’ve saved me—­I think.”

“Then, dearest, it’s all right?” Dick questioned, eagerly.  “You will keep your promise?  You will marry me?”

The glow, the light faded out of her face, and now the blue eyes were almost black.  She drooped and shook her head.

“Nell!” exclaimed Gale, sharply catching his breath.

“Don’t ask me, Dick.  I—­I won’t marry you.”

“Why?”

“You know.  It’s true that I—­”

“It’s a lie,” interrupted Gale, fiercely.  “But even if it’s true—­why—­why won’t you marry me?  Between you and me love is the thing.  Love, and nothing else!  Don’t you love me any more?”

They had forgotten Belding, who stepped back into the shade.

“I love you with my whole heart and soul.  I’d die for you,” whispered Nell, with clenching hands.  “But I won’t disgrace you.”

“Dear, you have worried over this trouble till you’re morbid.  It has grown out of all proportion.  I tell you that I’ll not only be the happiest man on earth, but the luckiest, if you marry me.”

“Dick, you give not one thought to your family.  Would they receive me as your wife?”

“They surely would,” replied Gale, steadily.

“No! oh no!”

“You’re wrong, Nell.  I’m glad you said that.  You give me a chance to prove something.  I’ll go this minute and tell them all.  I’ll be back here in less than—­”

“Dick, you will not tell her—­your mother?” cried Nell, with her eyes streaming.  “You will not?  Oh, I can’t bear it!  She’s so proud!  And Dick, I love her.  Don’t tell her!  Please, please don’t!  She’ll be going soon.  She needn’t ever know—­about me.  I want her always to think well of me.  Dick, I beg of you.  Oh, the fear of her knowing has been the worst of all!  Please don’t go!”