“‘Allen dear, don’t look at me that way; I cannot endure it. You look as if you blamed me for what has happened.’
“‘And who, pray, is to blame?’ I found breath to ask. At which she melted into tears and cried, ‘You don’t love me any more.’
“I was almost dumb with astonishment. ‘You don’t expect me to love you when you are going to marry another man, do you,?’ I gasped.
“‘Don’t you see how it is; I love you and always shall love you. Really, I could not marry you after papa found that your income from your mother’s estate was only four hundred pounds a year. Now, dearest, you know I could not dress decently on that. No, I had to marry Herbert, but I do not love him and never shall.’
“‘Why, Helen,’ I cried, ‘why did you not say it was money, not love, that you wanted, and I could have told you I have an allowance of five thousand pounds a year from my uncle, who is one of the wealthiest men in Australia.’
“‘Why didn’t you tell me that before; it would have made all the difference in the world. I don’t see what I can do now, unless I get up an awful quarrel with Herbert, and I will do that if I can.’
“I was shocked beyond all expression. This grasping, money-loving woman, who did not hesitate to say that she loved one man, when she was on the eve of marrying another. Could it be my Helen, whom I had thought the soul of innocence and goodness, all girlish love and yielding tenderness?
“I turned from her with a feeling that was almost loathing. I could not answer one word, but took my hat and left her presence forever.
“The next day found me with a ticket for New York in my pocket, and a determination to spend the rest of my life with my uncle, and, in a new country begin a new life. Such, young ladies, is my story so far; what will happen hereafter is a sealed book, as yet. Now, Miss Etta, give us your story next.”
Scarcely had Allen Thornton uttered these words, when they were suddenly aroused by the sharp ringing of the ship’s bell, and, at the same moment Mrs. Gray appeared on the deck, her face white and her whole manner one of alarm. The young people sprang to their feet and ran toward her, crying out “what is it,”? “what has happened”?, “what is the matter,?” all talking at once in breathless excitement, presenting a strange contrast to the picture they had formed a moment before, of perfect comfort and contentment.