"I shall do my duty, as I have promised," she said.

"All this is useless.

Let me go, Lot." "Madelon!" She looked up in his face, and a strange awe came over her at the look in it.

A more secret lurking-place than any of the little wild things that he loved to discover had the self in Lot Gordon, and Madelon saw it for the first time, and perhaps he, also.
"True love exists not unless it can do away with the desire of possession.

I love you, Madelon," said Lot; and then he let go of her shoulders and went over to the mantel-shelf, and leaned against it, with his head bent.
Madelon, all bewildered and trembling, stared at him.
"I--don't think I know what you mean," she gasped out, finally.
"You are--free," said Lot..