"In fact, I've decided to do so at once." "No, no! You mustn't do that.

To-night you think I am worth the price, but a day will come--" He leaned forward and caught her hands in his.
"-- Meade, I can't let you do it." "I'd like to see you help yourself," he said, banteringly.
"I can and I will.

You must not marry me, Meade--it's not right--it can't be." She suddenly realized what this renunciation would mean, and began to shiver.

To think of losing him now, after he had come to her freely--it would be very hard! But to her, too, there had come the revelation that love means sacrifice, and she knew now that she loved her soldier too well to let her shadow darken his bright future, too well to ruin him.
"It will be over before you know it," she heard him saying, in a lame attempt at levity.

"Father Barnum is an expert, and the operation won't occupy him ten minutes." "Meade, you must listen to me now," she said, so earnestly that it sobered him.