But as I expected to be leaving you soon, I thought it only right that as I was the humble means of first bringing her into your life, I should bring you this last news, which I suppose takes her out of it forever.

Only I want you to believe that YOU have nothing to regret, and that SHE is neither lost nor unhappy." The expression of suspicious inquiry on her face when he began changed gradually to perplexity as he continued, and then relaxed into a faint, peculiar smile.

But there was not the slightest trace of that pain, wounded pride, indignation, or anger, that he had expected to see upon it.
"That means, I suppose, Mr.Brant, that YOU no longer care for her ?" The smile had passed, yet she spoke now with a half-real, half-affected archness that was also unlike her.
"It means," said Clarence with a white face, but a steady voice, "that I care for her now as much as I ever cared for her, no matter to what folly it once might have led me.

But it means, also, that there was no time when I was not able to tell it to YOU as frankly as I do now"-- "One moment, please," she interrupted, and turned quickly towards the door.

She opened it and looked out.