“There should also be downright common-sense, Marian, a recognition of tacts and tendencies, of what is and what may be.  On one side a false delicacy often seals the lips of those most interested, until it is too late to speak; on the other, rank, wealth, and like advantages are urged without any delicacy at all.  These have their important place, but the qualities which would make your happiness sure are intrinsic to the man.  You know it is in my line to disentangle many a snarl in human conduct.  Look back on the past without prejudice, if you can.  Merwyn virtually said that he would make your standard of right and wrong his,—­that he would measure things as you estimate them, with that difference, of course, inherent in sex.  Is he not trying to do so?  Is he not acting, with one exception, as you would wish?  Here comes in the one thing we don’t understand.  As you suggest, it may be a fatal flaw in the marble, but we don’t know this.  The weight of evidence, in my mind, is against it.  His course toward Strahan—­one whom he might easily regard as a rival—­is significant.  He gave him far more than money; he drained his own vitality in seeking to restore his friend to health.  A coarse, selfish man always cuts a sorry figure in a sick-room, and shuns its trying duties even in spite of the strongest obligations.  You remember Mrs. Strahan’s tribute to Merwyn.  Yet there was no parade of his vigils, nor did he seek to make capital out of them with you.  Now I can view all these things dispassionately, as a man, and, as I said before, they give evidence of an unusual character.  Apparently he has chosen a certain course, and he has the will-power to carry it out.  Your heart, your life, are still your own.  All I wish is that you should not bestow them so hastily as not to secure the best possible guaranties of happiness.  This young man has crossed your path in a peculiar way.  You have immense influence over him.  So far as he appears free to act you influence his action.  Wait and see what it all means before you come to any decision about him.  Now,” he concluded, smiling, “is my common-sense applied to these affairs unnatural or unreasonable?”

“I certainly can wait with great equanimity,” she replied, laughing, “and I admit the reasonableness of what you say as you put it.  Nor can I any longer affect any disguises with you.  Mr. Merwyn does interest me, and has retained a hold upon my thoughts which has annoyed me.  He has angered and perplexed me.  It has seemed as if he said, ’I will give you so much for your regard; I will not give, however, what you ask.’  As you put it to-night, it is the same as if he said, ‘I cannot.’  Why can he not?  The question opens unpleasant vistas to my mind.  It will cost me little, however, to do as you wish, and my curiosity will be on the qui vive, if nothing more.”

CHAPTER XXV.

A chained will.