am Richard's wife. I wish I'd told him early June instead of
October. I'll tell him to-morrow and in four weeks more all the
dreadful uncertainty will be ended. I ought to love him, Victor,
he's done so much for me. I am that Swedish child he saved from
the river Rhine, periling life and limb, losing his sight for me.
He found it so that time he went with you to New York," and
Edith's tears ceased as she repeated to Victor all she knew of her
early history. "Shouldn't I marry him?" she asked, when the story
was ended. "Ought I not to be his eyes? Help me, Victor. Don't
make it so hard for me; I shall faint by the way if you do."

Victor conceded that she owed much to Richard, but nothing could
make him think it right for her to marry him with her present
feelings. It would be a greater wrong to him than to refuse him,
but Edith did not think so.

"He'll never know what I feel," she said, and by and by I shall be
better,--shall love him as he deserves. There are few Richards in
the world, Victor."

"That is true," he replied, "but 'tis no reason why you must be
sacrificed. Edith, the case is like this: I wish, and the world at
large, if it could speak, would wish for Richard to marry you, but
would not wish you to marry Richard."

"But I shall," interrupted Edith. "There is no possible chance of
my not doing so, and Victor, you will help me.--You won't tell him
of Arthur. You know how his unselfish heart would give me up if
you did, and break while doing it. Promise, Victor."