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else； and I've come to ask if you are willing to let the reward go； and
leave this poor fellow〃Where he is？〃
〃Yesnot bring him down to date。〃
〃Oh； there's my hand； and my heart's in it； too！〃
〃I'll never forget you for this； Hawkins；〃 said the old gentleman in a
voice which he found it hard to control。 〃You are making a great
sacrifice for me； and one which you can ill afford； but I'll never forget
your generosity； and if I live you shall not suffer for it； be sure of
that。〃
Sally Sellers immediately and vividly realized that she was become a new
being； a being of a far higher and worthier sort than she had been such a
little while before； an earnest being； in place of a dreamer； and
supplied with a reason for her presence in the world； where merely a
wistful and troubled curiosity about it had existed before。 So great and
so comprehensive was the change which had been wrought； that she seemed
to herself to be a real person who had lately been a shadow； a something
which had lately been a nothing； a purpose； which had lately been a
fancy； a finished temple； with the altar…fires lit and the voice of
worship ascending； where before had been but an architect's confusion of
arid working plans； unintelligible to the passing eye and prophesying
nothing。
〃Lady〃 Gwendolen！ The pleasantness of that sound was all gone； it was an
offense to her ear now。 She said：
〃Therethat sham belongs to the past； I will not be called by it any
more。〃
〃I may call you simply Gwendolen？ You will allow me to drop the
formalities straightway and name you by your dear first name without
additions？〃
She was dethroning the pink and replacing it with a rosebud。
〃There…that is better。 I hate pinkssome pinks。 Indeed yes； you are to
call me by my first name without additionsthat is；well； I don't mean
without additions entirely； but〃
It was as far as she could get。 There was a pause； his intellect was
struggling to comprehend； presently it did manage to catch the idea in
time to save embarrassment all around； and he said gratefully
〃Dear Gwendolen！ I may say that？〃
〃Yespart of it。 Butdon't kiss me when I am talking； it makes me
forget what I was going to say。 You can call me by part of that form；
but not the last part。 Gwendolen is not my name。〃
〃Not your name？〃 This in a tone of wonder and surprise。
The girl's soul was suddenly invaded by a creepy apprehension； a quite
definite sense of suspicion and alarm。 She put his arms away from her；
looked him searchingly in the eye； and said：
〃Answer me truly； on your honor。 You are not seeking to marry me on
account of my rank？〃
The shot almost knocked him through the wall； he was so little prepared
for it。 There was something so finely grotesque about the question and
its parent suspicion； that he stopped to wonder and admire； and thus was
he saved from laughing。 Then； without wasting precious time； he set
about the task of convincing her that he had been lured by herself alone；
and had fallen in love with her only； not her title and position； that he
loved her with all his heart； and could not love her more if she were a
duchess； or less if she were without home； name or family。 She watched
his face wistfully； eagerly； hopefully； translating his words by its
expression； and when he had finished there was gladness in her heart
a tumultuous gladness； indeed； though outwardly she was calm； tranquil；
even judicially austere。 She prepared a surprise for him； now；
calculated to put a heavy strain upon those disinterested protestations
of his； and thus she delivered it； burning it away word by word as the
fuse burns down to a bombshell； and watching to see how far the explosion
would lift him：
〃Listenand do not doubt me； for I shall speak the exact truth。 Howard
Tracy； I am no more an earl's child than you are！〃
To her joyand secret surprise； alsoit never phased him。 He was
ready； this time； and saw his chance。 He cried out with enthusiasm；
〃Thank heaven for that！〃 and gathered her to his arms。
To express her happiness was almost beyond her gift of speech。
〃You make me the proudest girl in all the earth；〃 she said； with her head
pillowed on his shoulder。 〃I thought it only natural that you should be
dazzled by the titlemaybe even unconsciously； you being Englishand
that you might be deceiving yourself in thinking you loved only me； and
find you didn't love me when the deception was swept away； so it makes me
proud that the revelation stands for nothing and that you do love just
me； only meoh； prouder than any words can tell！〃
〃It is only you； sweetheart； I never gave one envying glance toward your
father's earldom。 That is utterly true； dear Gwendolen。〃
〃There…you mustn't call me that。 I hate that false name。 I told you it
wasn't mine。 My name is Sally Sellersor Sarah； if you like。 From this
time I banish dreams； visions； imaginings； and will no more of them。
I am going to be myselfmy genuine self； my honest self； my natural
self； clear and clean of sham and folly and fraud； and worthy of you。
There is no grain of social inequality between us； I； like you； am poor；
I； like you； am without position or distinction； you are a struggling
artist； I am that； too； in my humbler way。 Our bread is honest bread； we
work for our…living。 Hand in hand we will walk hence to the grave；
helping each other in all ways； living for each other； being and
remaining one in heart and purpose； one in hope and aspiration；
inseparable to the end。 And though our place is low； judged by the
world's eye； we will make it as high as the highest in the great
essentials of honest work for what we eat and wear； and conduct above
reproach。 We live in a land； let us be thankful； where this is all…
sufficient； and no man is better than his neighbor by the grace of God；
but only by his own merit。〃
Tracy tried to break in； but she stopped him and kept the floor herself。
〃I am not through yet。 I am going to purge myself of the last vestiges
of artificiality and pretence； and then start fair on your own honest
level and be worthy mate to you thenceforth。 My father honestly thinks
he is an earl。 Well； leave him his dream； it pleases him and does no one
any harm： It was the dream of his ancestors before him。 It has made
fools of the house of Sellers for generations； and it made something of a
fool of me； but took no deep root。 I am done with it now； and for good。
Forty…eight hours ago I was privately proud of being the daughter of a
pinchbeck earl； and thought the proper mate for me must be a man of like
degree； but to…dayoh； how grateful I am for your love which has healed
my sick brain and restored my sanity！I could make oath that no earl's
son in all the world〃
〃Oh；well； butbut〃
〃Why； you look like a person in a panic。 What is it？ What is the
matter？〃
〃Matter？ Oh； nothingnothing。 I was only going to say〃but in his
flurry nothing occurred to him to say； for a moment； then by a lucky
inspiration he thought of something entirely sufficient for the occasion；
and brought it out with eloquent force： 〃Oh； how beautiful you are！ You
take my breath away when you look like th