"Miss Treherne, I have ventured to come for my answer. Is my New Year to
be a blissful or a sad one?" he asked eagerly.

"Forgive me if I give you an unwelcome reply, but I must be true, and so
regretfully refuse the honor you do me," she said sorrowfully.

"May I ask why?"

"Because I do not love you."

"And you do love your cousin," he cried angrily, pausing to watch her
half-averted face.

She turned it fully toward him and answered, with her native sincerity,
"Yes, I do, with all my heart, and now my mother will not thwart me, for
Maurice has saved my life, and I am free to devote it all to him."

"Happy man, I wish I had been a cripple!" sighed Annon. Then with a
manful effort to be just and generous, he added heartily, "Say no more,
he deserves you; I want no sacrifice to duty; I yield, and go away,
praying heaven to bless you now and always."

He kissed her hand and left her to seek my lady and make his adieus, for
no persuasion could keep him. Leaving a note for Sir Jasper, he hurried
away, to the great relief of Treherne and the deep regret of Blanche,
who, however, lived in hopes of another trial later in the season.

"Here comes Jasper, Mamma, safe and well," cried Octavia an hour or two
later, as she joined her mother on the terrace, where my lady had been