"I should feel a villain for the rest of my life, but upon my word I have a mind to do it." "No, no," she cried passionately, "I will not allow it! You shall swear to me that you will never breathe a word to Bessie.

I will not have her happiness destroyed.

We have sinned, we must suffer; not Bessie, who is innocent, and only takes her right.

I promised my dear mother to look after Bessie and protect her, and I will not be the one to betray her--never, never! You must marry her and I must go away.

There is no other way out of it." John looked at her, not knowing what to say or do.