Ah! he must not forget THAT! It was to marry him that she had taken that step.

It was perhaps a foolish caution--a mistaken reservation; but it was the folly--the mistake of a loving woman.

He hugged this belief the closer, albeit he was conscious at the same time of following Blandford's story of his alienated affection with a feeling of wonder and envy.
"And what was the result of this touching sacrifice ?" continued Blandford, trying to resume his former cynical indifference.

"I'll tell you.

This scoundrel set himself about to supplant me.