"FOR MY NAME'S SAKE."
Ah! Here was a motive, strong enough to enable me to overcome the greatest temptation; here was a motive, strong enough to enable me to conquer all those desires and wishes of my heart, which were urging me into disobedience to my Lord's command.
"For My Name's sake; is it too much to bear for Me?"
I heard Him ask me; and, in a moment, all His infinite love for me, all His self-denial for my sake, all His travail of soul, all that He underwent to save me, and bless me, crowded upon my mind, and was followed by the question—
"All this I bore for thee,
What canst thou bear for Me?"
My mind was made up; I would parley with the temptation no longer.
I drew my hand away from Claude's, gently, but firmly. "Claude," I said, "do not let us make each other more miserable, by going over and over the same ground. You will never be able to move me. I can only repeat what I have told you before. As a sister, as a friend, I will always love you, but I cannot be your wife. Claude," I went on, as he was beginning to speak, "that is my final answer, so please say no more about it."
I suppose I spoke very decidedly, though I had tried to speak calmly, for Claude was very angry. A change passed over his face in an instant; I do not think he had dreamt for a single moment that I should be able to withstand his arguments and his persuasions.
He walked to the window and looked out on the garden below.
"Then I am to look upon this as final, May?" he said, bitterly.