That is just what I have
decided is impossible. Marian, you shall have the plain truth. I can trust your
faith, but I can't trust my own. I will marry you now, but - years hence - how
can I tell what may happen? I don't trust myself.«
    »You say you will marry me now; that sounds as if you had made up your mind
to a sacrifice.«
    »I didn't mean that. To face difficulties, yes.«
    Whilst they spoke, the sky had grown dark with a heavy cloud, and now spots
of rain began to fall. Jasper looked about him in annoyance as he felt the
moisture, but Marian did not seem aware of it.
    »But shall you face them willingly?«
    »I am not a man to repine and grumble. Put up your umbrella, Marian.«
    »What do I care for a drop of rain,« she exclaimed with passionate sadness,
»when all my life is at stake! How am I to understand you? Every word you speak
seems intended to dishearten me. Do you no longer love me? Why need you conceal
it, if that is the truth? Is that what you mean by saying you distrust yourself?
If you do so, there must be reason for it in the present. Could I distrust my
self? Can I force myself in any manner to believe that I shall ever cease to
love you?«
    Jasper opened his umbrella.
    »We must see each other again, Marian. We can't stand and talk in the rain -
confound it! Cursed climate, where you can never be sure of a clear sky for five
minutes!«
    »I can't go till you have spoken more plainly, Jasper! How am I to live an
hour in such uncertainty as this? Do you love me or not? Do you wish me to be
your wife, or are you sacrificing yourself?«
    »I do wish it!« Her emotion had an effect upon him, and his voice trembled.
»But I can't answer for myself - no, not for a year. And how are we to marry
now, in face of all these -«
    »What can I do? What can I do?« she sobbed. »Oh, if I were but heartless to
everyone but you! If I could give you my money, and leave my father and mother
to their fate! Perhaps some could do that. There is no natural law that a child
should surrender everything for
