"We are the veriest slaves of destiny in these matters.

A man sees the only woman in the world he can love too late to win her with honour.

If he is strong enough to act nobly, he turns his back upon the scene of his temptation, all the more easily should the lady happen to be staunch to her affianced, or her husband, as the case may be.

But if _she_ waver--if he sees that his love is returned--heaven help him! Honour, generosity, friendship, all go by the board; and for the light in those fatal eyes, for the dangerous music of that one dear voice, he sacrifices all that he has held highest in life until that luckless time.

I _know_ that Holbrook held it no light thing to do you this wrong; I know that he fought manfully against temptation.