"Have you had medical advice?"
He laughed bitterly; "I, had advice! Why for weeks together I have not owned a dollar."
"How have you lived? I mean what has kept you from starving?"
"It is a long story," he answered, "and I am very weak."
She turned to her brother, who gave a whispered message to the lad, sending him from the room.
"Is that Edward Wallingford?" murmured the sick man. "I did not send for him."
"This is not a place for a lady to be seen alone," was Edward's reply; "but that is not the only reason I came. I heard you were in distress; and I came to relieve you if possible."
"Nobody can do that. I have thrown away the best chance for happiness a man ever had. You know what I might have been. And you," turning to Gertrude, "know how wickedly I broke my vows to you. This is what sin has brought me to."
"We are all sinners," said Gertrude earnestly, "and Christ came to save those who feel themselves to be lost without his aid. Cannot you throw yourself upon his mercy, his infinite love?"
"No, no. I've no hope of happiness in this world or the next. I only wanted to see you once more. You can go away now."