"How can I help loving her! She is the best and loveliest girl I have ever seen! Believe me,--I would make her happy!" "And have you thought, young man," returned Gueldmar slowly, "that you would make me desolate ?--or, thinking it, have you cared ?" There was an infinite pathos in his voice, and Errington was touched and silent.

He found no answer to this reproach.

Gueldmar sat down, leaning his head on his hand.
"Let me think a little," he said.

"My mind is confused a bit.

I was not prepared for--" He paused and seemed lost in sorrowful meditation.