"It may be best," he repeated, "but I simply can't do it"—he paused, turned away and suddenly wheeled confronting her:
"I'll tell you all that you need to know to-day—you were born under the shadow of a hopeless disgrace——"
The girl lifted her hand as if to ward a blow while she slowly repeated:
"A hopeless—disgrace——"
"Beneath a shadow so deep, no lover's vow can ever lift it from your life. I should have told you this before, perhaps—well, somehow I couldn't"—he paused and his voice trembled—"I wanted you to grow in strength and character first——"
The girl clenched her hands and sprang in front of him:
"That my agony might be beyond endurance? Now you must tell me the whole truth!"
Again the appealing uplifted face had invited the blow, and again his heart failed. It was impossible to crush her. It was too horrible. He spoke with firm decision:
"Not another word!"
He turned and walked rapidly to the door. The girl clung desperately to his arm: