'May I show you how I look at it?' I asked.

'Go on,' he said.

For an hour I talked; eloquently, even vehemently urging the reasonand right of my opinion. She would be doing no more than everywoman does, no more than she did before; her mother-in-law had acomfortable home, all that wealth could procure, good servants, andfriends; the estates could be managed without her personalsupervision; after a few months' work here they would go east forlittle Majorie's education; why should two lives be broken?--and soI went on.

He listened carefully, even eagerly.

'You make a good case,' he exclaimed, with a slight chuckle. 'I will taketime. Perhaps you are right. The light will come. Surely it willcome. But,' and here he sprang up and stretched his arms to fulllength somewhat above his head, 'I am not sorry; whatever comes I am notsorry. It is great to have her love, but greater to love her as Ido. Thank God! nothing can take that away. I am willing, glad tosuffer for the joy of loving her.'

Next afternoon, before I was awake, he was gone, leaving a note forme:--

'MY DEAR C0NN0R,--I am due at the Landing. When I see you again Ithink my way will be clear. Now all is unlit. At times I am acoward, and occasionally, as you sometimes kindly inform me, an ass; but Ihope I may never become a mule.