I confess I am growing too old not to feel the value to a woman--a necessity to her in this country--of security in her present and future position.

Another can give me that.

And although you may call this a selfish view of our relations, I believe that you will soon--if you do not, even as you read this now--feel the justice of it, and thank me for taking it." With a smile of scorn he tore up the letter, in what he fondly believed was the bitterness of an outraged trustful nature, forgetting that for many weeks he had scarcely thought of its writer, and that he himself in his conduct had already anticipated its truths..