Mrs. Hatchett waved her hand towards
Clement Charlewood, who stood beside the
fireplace.

Mabel was white, but betrayed no other sign
of emotion, and greeted Clement quietly.

"Mr. Charlewood," continued Mrs. Hatchett,
referring ostentatiously to a card she held in her
hand, " tells me that he is an old friend of your
family. I have told him that as a general rule
I do not approve of young persons in my employ
receiving visits from gentlemen. However,
in this case——" Mrs. Hatchett finished her
speech by a dignified inclination of the head, and
walked slowly out of the room. The good lady
was, in fact, considerably impressed by Mabel's
receiving a visit from a member of the rich
Charlewood family.

Mabel sat down by the round centre table
covered with tawdry books, and Clement
remained standing opposite to her. For a minute
or two, neither spoke. At length Mabel said:
"Have you been to Hazlehurst lately, Mr.
Charlewood? Have you seen mamma and
Julian?"

"No. Had I gone to Hazlehurst, I could
not have refrained from speaking of—of you;
and until I had seen you again, I resolved to
keep my secret in my own heart."

There was silence again for a space.

"I have come for my answer, Mabel. But
before you give it to me, let me repeat my solemn
promise to be your friend through all chances
and changes. It may be that I shall never have
the power to serve you, but at least believe that
I shall ever have the will."

She raised her head and thanked him by a
look.

"Tell me, Mabel, that you have thought of
the words I said to you that night."

"I have thought of them; and I wish to
answer them kindly and—and gratefully. I
know I ought to be grateful for such words, so
spoken. But I cannot answer them as you
would have me."

"There is no question of gratitude, Mabel.
Why should you be grateful to me? I could
not help loving you."

"Mr. Charlewood, I am very sorry."

"Oh, Mabel, Mabel!" cried the young man,
passionately, " you cannot know how it cuts me
to the heart to hear you say so! Mabel, dear
Mabel, I know that in many ways I am not
worthy of you, but I believe that I could make
you happy, if you could bring yourself to love
and trust me. I spoke too suddenly the other
night, but I was hurried away by the thought of
losing you, and by the prospect of your going
away to embrace the career you contemplate.
I knew for the first time how dear you were to
me, by the pang of my heart when your mother
told me of your project,. Let me save you from
it, Mabel, my beloved!"

He had taken her hand, which she had suffered
to lie unresistingly in his; but at his last words
she withdrew it, and looked up at him.

"Save me, Mr. Charlewood? I do not
understand you."

"Forgive me, Mabel, if I offend you; but
this is too serious a matter for polite commonplaces
that mean nothing. God knows I am
actuated by no selfish motive; if I knew I never
were to see your dear face again, I would still
urge you to abandon this scheme."

"And I would still reply that on this matter
your mind and mine are as far asunder as the
poles. We cannot see it in the same light, Mr.
Charlewood. How should you, who have been
born and educated in the midst of Hammerham
millionaires, be able to conceive the true life of
an artist? Pardon me; but you have rightly
said this is not a matter for polite commonplaces."

Clement had fallen back a pace or two, and
stood regarding her with a look of pained
surprise.

"Mabel, you are angry, and your anger makes
you a little unjust, I think."

"I am not doing injustice to your motive,'*
she answered, quietly. " I know you speak the
truth exactly as you see it, and in all singleness
of mind; but do you not perceive how impossible
it would be for us ever to agree on this
matter?"

"Be my wife, Mabel, and the question will
be set at rest for ever."

"That question; yes, perhaps," she answered,
with a vivid blush; "out there would be a
thousand other questions on which we should be
at issue. And then your family——"

"My family?"

"Yes; do you think they would be willing to
receive a penniless teacher out of Mrs. Hatchett's
school, and welcome her as your bride?"

Clement's face brightened suddenly.

"Is it possible that you have been allowing
such a thought to weigh with you? My child,
you would not surely sacrifice my happiness, and
perhaps your own, to a foolish pride? You are
proud, Mabel; very proud. I did not know it
till to-day; but if the thought of what my family
might say is troubling you——"

"It is not at all troubling me."

"Well—if it is present to your mind—dismiss
it. My people love you very much, Mabel; but
even though it were otherwise, I say, not only
that I do not think you ought to heed their
disapproval, but that I am very sure you ought
not to do so. If that is the only obstacle——"

"No, Mr. Charlewood, that is not the only
obstacle. I—do not love you."

"Mabel!"

"Hear me out. I have thought of the words
you said to me very deeply. I have tried to
find the truth of my own heart. It was due to
you that I should so try. I have told myself
that if I loved you— loved you with such love
as a girl should bear towards her future husband
—surely I should be willing and happy to give
up all other plans and projects for your sake.
You would be the dearest thing on earth to me.
Well! That is not so. I love my mother and
my brother better. I love my own people who
were good to us when we were helpless and
desolate, better. I love my plans and dreams,