Say what you were going to--'who has put herself into my power, and who has lost the right of meeting me on equal terms.' Say what you think.

At least we two may speak the truth to one another." Then she added after a pause: "I believe you do love me, as much as you possibly could love anything; and I believe that when you ask me to marry you you are performing the most generous act you ever have performed in the course of your life, or ever will; but, at the same time, if I had required your generosity, it would not have been shown me.

If, when I got your letter a month ago, hinting at your willingness to marry me, I had at once written, imploring you to come, you would have read the letter.

'Poor little devil!' you would have said, and tore it up.

The next week you would have sailed for Europe, and have sent me a check for a hundred and fifty pounds (which I would have thrown in the fire), and I would have heard no more of you." The stranger smiled.
"But because I declined your proposal, and wrote that in three weeks I should be married to another, then what you call love woke up.