They had been very tender to me, and they were old.

God knows no woman ever shrank more from a lover than I from Richard Dawson.

But, perhaps, if I sacrificed myself, following the example of our Lord himself, He would take me away from the intolerable marriage.

He would let me save them, and then He would take me to himself.
"I will marry Richard Dawson," I said quietly.
I saw an immense relief in the poor old faces, although their cloud barely lifted.

They did not thank me.