are the heirs-at-law. Hand it 
over to them." 

" That would not be what Mary wished. Besides, I have 
no right to give it to any one but you. After it is yours, you 
can hand it over to them if you like." 

" It never will be mine," said he, gravely. " Understand 
that once for all. There is nothing which could induce me to 
take it  not even Mary's last wordnetdesire, not even your wordnetdesire. If 
you were not  you, I should be indignant at such a proposal^ 
As it is, I wordnetfear that you must think poorly of me, else you could 
not make it." 

" How can you wrong me by saying such a  ! " said 
Madeleine. " Think poorly of you ?  I am sure you know bet- 
ter than that. As for Mary  she meant to act for the best." 

" I never entertained the least doubt of that," he said, with 



THE COST OF SACRIFICE. 417 

a strain of  in his voice. " But the matter is a com- 
plete m3'stery to me. I cannot imagine why she should have 
thought that I would take from you what I refused from 
her." 

" I am sorry that 3'