"Is it among the possibilities that you could ever again contemplate giving yourself in marriage to Craik Mansell, no matter what the issue of the coming trial may be?"
A shudder quick and powerful as that which follows the withdrawal of a dart from an agonizing wound shook her whole frame for a moment, but she answered, steadily:
"No; how can you ask, Mr. Orcutt?"
A gleam of relief shot across his somewhat haggard features.
"Then," said he, "it will be no treason in me to assure you that never has my love been greater for you than to-day. That to save you from the pain which you are suffering, I would sacrifice every thing, even my pride. If, therefore, there is any kindness I can show you, any deed I can perform for your sake, I am ready to attempt it, Imogene.
"Would you—" she hesitated, but gathered courage as she met his eye—"would you be willing to go to him with a message from me?"
His glance fell and his lips took a line that startled Imogene, but his answer, though given with bitterness was encouraging.
"Yes," he returned; "even that."
"Then," she cried, "tell him that to save the innocent, I had to betray the guilty, but in doing this I did not spare myself; that whatever his doom may be, I shall share it, even though it be that of death."
"Imogene!"