I may not love you, Grizel, but of this I am very sure"-- he was speaking steadily, he was forgetting no one--"that you are the noblest and bravest woman I have ever known, and I promised--he did not draw the promise from me, I gave it to him--that if I was a free man and could help you in any way without paining you by telling you these things, I would try that way first." "And this is the way ?" "I could think of no other.

Is it of no avail ?" She shook her head.

"You have made such a dreadful mistake," she cried miserably, "and you won't see it.

Oh, how you wrong him! I am the happiest girl in the world, and it is he who makes me so happy.

But I can't explain.