"It may be for his happiness that you should, dear; and my story and his are, for awhile, the same."
I had risen to put on my hat and cloak to get away from the temptation she pressed upon me; but at her last words I sank back into the chair.
"Can you be the woman he loved and was to marry?"
"Would it surprise you very much if I said Yes?"
"It would, and it would not."
"Your words are ambiguous. I was told you were exceedingly frank and impulsive, but one cannot always believe the public verdict."
I was silent. I recognized I had a clever woman to deal with, and for some reason she wished to use me for her own purpose, I was assured. She arose, and crossing the room disappeared through the tapestry portière. I watched her as she moved gracefully away, her long silken robe seeming to give additional height to her already tall figure. She presently returned, bringing a richly bound album, and laid it, open, on my knee. I glanced at it, and saw my guardian's pictured face looking at me, brighter, happier than it had ever done in reality.
"Does he look like that now?"
I studied the picture before I answered.
"His face looked nobler as I watched it last night while he was talking of some of his favorite authors. It is stronger now, though. Noble thoughts have matured the lines that were then only imperfectly formed."