From the time she had first come under her sister's roof Graydon Muir had begun to make himself essential to her.

His uniform kindness had created trust, freedom, and a content akin to happiness.

Now all was swept away.

She understood that his love was an affection resulting from pity and the strong, genial forces of his nature.

The girl who could kindle his spirit and inspire the best and most enthusiastic efforts of his manhood must be like Miss Wildmere--strong, beautiful, capable of keeping step with him under society's critical eyes, and not a mere shadow of a woman like herself.