And his cousin Lot had the family wealth, and if she married him she would inherit it, and not he.

What could he say to her, sewing so calmly upon her wedding-dress, seemingly in utter acquiescence and content with her fate?
Could he take another step without going deeper into the slough of shame and distress where it seemed to him he already stood?
And there was Dorothy.
Madelon never glanced at him as she sewed.

Presently he arose and went over to her again.

"Madelon," he said, hesitatingly, coloring red, "tell me you do not have any hard feelings towards me?
I know I deserve it." "You deserve nothing; it is I," she said, in a low voice.
"_You!_" "I know what you did to save my life," she said.

Her voice gave out a rich thrill, like a musical tone, as she spoke.