Nell of Shorne Mills

"Yes, I know," she said. "He--he thinks, will always think, that it was

I----" She broke off with an irrepressible shudder.

Sir Archie's hand went to his mustache to cover the quiver of his lips.

"My God! it's the noblest thing! But--have you counted the cost--the

consequences?"

"Yes," she said. "But it does not matter. I--I am nobody--only a girl,

with no husband, no one who loves, cares for me; while she----Yes, I

know what I have done; but I am not sorry--I don't regret. I have your

promise?" she looked up at his strained face solemnly. "You will keep

it?--you will not break your word? You will go away and--and leave her?"

His hands clenched behind him, and he was silent for a moment; then he

said: "Yes, by Heaven! I will! The sacrifice shall not be all on your side.

Tell her--no, tell her nothin', or you will have to tell her all. Tell

her nothin'. Miss Lorton----" His voice broke, and he hesitated. Nell

waited, and he found his voice again. "When I hear that there are no

good women, no noble ones, I--I shall think of what you have done this

mornin'. Good-by. I--I can't ask you to shake hands. My God! I'm not fit

for you to touch! I see that now. Good-by!"

He went out of the room with drooping head, but he raised it as he

passed the earl, and the two men nodded--for the benefit of the footman

who opened the door.

Nell hid her face in her hands and waited, and presently the earl

reëntered the library.