why a woman should give her life to a man. Quite apart from the
law, which proclaims that each individual must be the arbiter of
his own fate, and not succumb to the wishes of others, it would be
an ethical sin for you to marry the worthy Mr. Medlicott--not
loving him. Surely, you can see this."

"Yes--yes, it would be dreadful," she murmured, "but Aunt
Caroline--she caused me to accept him--I mean, she wanted me to so
much. I never really felt anything for him myself, and lately--
ever since the beginning, in fact, I have been getting more and
more indifferent to him."

"Then, surely, it is plain that you must be free of him, darling.
Throw all the responsibility upon me, if you will. I promise to
take every care of you. And I want you only to promise you will
follow each step that I explain to you--" then he broke off, and
the seriousness of his tone changed to one of caressing
tenderness. "But first I must know for certain, little star, shall
I be able to teach you to love me--as I shall love you?"

"Yes," was all Stella could utter, and then, gaining more voice,
she went on, "I did not know--I could not guess what that would
mean--to love--but--"

He answered her with fond triumph:

"Now you are beginning to understand, darling child--that is
enough for me to know for the present. In your country, a man asks
a woman to marry him: he says, 'Will you marry me?'--is it not so?
of course, I need not say that to you, because you know that is