 affect you, Mr. Marsh.«
    »Indeed it does. It affects me so far, that it alters the whole course of my
life. In spite of everything that has seemed to come between us, I have never
allowed myself to think of our engagement as at an end. The parcel you sent me
the other day is unopened; if you do not open it yourself, no one ever shall.
Whatever you may do, I cannot break faith. You ought to know me better than to
misinterpret a few foolish and hasty words, and appearances that had a meaning
you should have understood. The time has come now for putting an end to those
misconceptions.«
    »They no longer concern me. Please to speak of something else.«
    »You must, at all events, understand my position before we part. This
morning I was as firmly resolved as ever to risk everything, to renounce the aid
of my relatives if it must be, and face poverty for the sake of art. Now all is
changed. I shall accept my step-father's offer, and all its results; becoming,
if it can't be helped, a mere man of business. I do this because of my sacred
duties to you. As an artist, there's no telling how long it might be before I
could ask you again to be my wife; as a man of business, I may soon be in a
position to do so. Don't interrupt me, I entreat! It is no matter to me if you
repulse me now, in your anger. I consider the engagement as still existing
between us, and, such being the case, it is plainly my duty to take such steps
as will enable me to offer you a home. By remaining an artist, I should satisfy
one part of my conscience, but at the expense of all my better feelings; it
might even be supposed - though, I trust, not by you - that I made my
helplessness an excuse for forgetting you when most you needed kindness. I shall
go back to England, and devote myself with energy to the new task, however
repulsive it may prove. Whether you think of me or not, I do it for your sake;
you cannot rob me of that satisfaction. Some day I shall again stand before you,
and ask you for what you once promised. If then you refuse - well, I must bear
the loss of all my hopes.«
    »You may direct your life as you choose,« Madeline replied scornfully, »but
