I love you more for this foolish kindness that brings YOU beneath my roof once more, and gives me a chance to speak my heart to you, if only once and for the last time, than all the fortune that you could put at my disposal.

But I could not accept what you would offer me from any woman who was not my wife--and I could not marry any woman that did not love me.

I am perhaps past the age when I could inspire a young girl's affection; but I have not reached the age when I would accept anything less." He stopped abruptly.

Grace did not look up.

There was a tear glistening upon her long eyelashes, albeit a faint smile played upon her lips.
"Do you call this business, Mr.Rushbrook ?" she said softly.
"Business ?" "To assume a proposal declined before it has been offered." "Grace--my darling--tell me--is it possible ?" It was too late for her to rise now, as his hands held both hers, and his handsome mouth was smiling level with her own.