Come, Mary, for pity's sake, decide which you love best--your father, who does not care much for you, or me, who adore you, and will give you a life of gratitude as well as love, if you will only see things as they are and always will be, and trust yourself to me as my dear, dear, blessed, adored wife!" "I love you best," said Mary, "and I hope it is not wicked.

But I love him too, though he does say 'wait.' And I respect _myself_, and I dare not defy my parent, and I will not marry secretly; that is degrading.
And, oh, Walter, think how young I am and inexperienced, and you that are so much older, and I hoped would be my guide and make me better; is it you who tempt me to clandestine meetings that I blush for, and a clandestine marriage for which I should despise myself ?" Walter turned suddenly calm, for these words pricked his conscience.
"You are right," said he.

"I am a blackguard, and you are an angel of purity and goodness.

Forgive me, I will never tempt nor torment you again.

For pity's sake forgive me.