The man evidently did love her; there was no doubting the sincerity of his words, and she liked him and he was a gentleman.

If she married him there would be an end of all her worries and troubles, and she could rest contentedly on his strong arm.

Woman, even gifted woman, is not made to fight the world with her own hand, and the prospect had allurements.

But while she thought, Eustace Meeson's bonny face rose before her eyes, and, as it did so, a faint feeling of repulsion to the man who was pleading with her took form and colour in her breast.

Eustace Meeson, of course, was nothing to her; no word or sign of affection had passed between them; and the probability was that she would never set her eyes upon him again.