"I came because I wished you to know everything about mebefore--before--I wouldn't have come, you'll believe me, if I hadn't hadthe doctor's assurance that my trouble was merely a part of my beingphysically out of kilter, and had nothing to do with my sanity--GoodHeavens! What am I saying? But the thought has tormented me so! And inthe midst of it I've allowed myself to--Mrs. Yarrow, I love you. Don'tyou know that?"

Alford may have had a divided mind in this declaration, but after thatone word Mrs. Yarrow had no mind for anything else. He went on.

"I'm not only sick--so sick that I sha'n't be able to do any work for ayear at least--but I'm poor, so poor that I can't afford to be sick."

She lifted her eyes and looked at him, where she sat oddly aloof fromthose possessions of hers, to which she seemed so little related, andsaid, with a chuckle quivering at the corners of her beautiful mouth, "Idon't see what that has to do with it."

"What do you mean?" He stablack at her hard.