"Oh James, do not be so heartless. Do have some regard for her feelings. You must know how tantalizing it would be to hold any farther intercourse with you, if she felt that it must be broken off sometime. I wish you could have seen her, you would not have any distrust of her then. She will never be any whiter when she lies in her coffin, her lips were as bloodless as they'll ever be, and yet she looked so trustful, so loving; I would go to the ends of the earth and live on bread and water, to serve such a being. Only think what a risk she runs to trust you if you will keep steady a year. There are ten chances to one that a man will fall back into his old habits when the restraint is gone, and he has gained the prize he sought. And now James, as I shudder to think of the possibility of such a thing, if I shall be in the least instrumental in effecting your union, do you pledge yourself here in the silence of this wood with none but God to witness, than you will never bring that reproach upon yourself, such an unfailing source of regret to me, and such life-long misery to your angel wife."
James buried his face in his hands and wept like a child. For a moment Walter feared that he had spoken too strongly, but recollecting that former interviews had proved fruitless, ho knew that it was only by a strong, decided course he could hope to wield any influence over him, and sought not to arrest the current of feeling in which alone lay the hope of salvation.
At length James rose abruptly, saying, "Walter, I shan't stay here any longer."
