life was not all sunshine.

He had not the heart to push his inquiries farther. He felt that he had
no right to remain any longer, when in all probability his presence was a
torture to the girl who had injured him.

"I will not prolong my visit, Marian," he said regretfully.

"It was altogether a foolish one, perhaps; but I wanted so much to see
you once more, to hear some explanation of your conduct from your own
lips."

"My conduct can admit of neither explanation nor justification," she
replied humbly. "I know how wickedly I have acted. Believe me, Gilbert, I
am quite conscious of my unworthiness, and how little right I have to
expect your forgiveness."

"It is my weakness, rather than my merit, not to be able to cherish any
angry feeling against you, Marian. Mine has been a slavish kind of love.
I suppose that sort of thing never is successful. Women have an
instinctive contempt for men who love them with such blind unreasonable
idolatry."

"I do not know how that may be; but I know that I have always respected
and esteemed you," she answered in her gentle pleading way.

"I am grateful to you even for so much as that. And now I suppose I must
say good-bye--rather a hard word to say under the circumstances. Heaven
knows when you and I may meet again."