gall for a little than that you should spoil your life. Sweet flower,
realize yourself these things--that sunny hair and that beautiful
skin and those velvet eyes were made for the joy and glory of a
man--not for temptations to a strict priest, who would resent
their power as a sin every time he felt himself influenced by
their charm. Gods above! he would not know what to do with you,
heart of me!"

Stella was thrilling with exquisite emotion, but the influence of
her strict and narrow bringing up could not be quite overcome in
these few moments. She longed to be convinced, and yet some
altruistic sentiment made her feel still some qualms and
misgivings. If she should be causing Eustace great pain by
breaking her engagement; if it were very wrong to go against her
uncle and aunt--especially her Aunt Caroline, her own mother's
sister. She clasped her little hands nervously, and looked up in
this strong man's face with pathetic, pleading intensity.

"Oh, please tell me, what ought I to do, then--what is right?" she
implored. "And because I want so much to believe you, I fear it
must be wrong to do so."

He leaned nearer to her and spoke earnestly. His stillness was
almost ominous, it gave the impression of such immense self-
control, and his voice was as those bass notes of the priests of
St. Isaac's in his own northern land.

"Dear, honest little girl," he said tenderly, "I worship your
goodness. And I know you will presently see the truth. Love is of
God and is imperious, and because she loves him is the only reason