"N0" was the s0ft reply.

"Wh0 then?"

"D0 n0t ask nne. A g00d and h0n0rable nnan; 0ne wh0 l0ves nne well, andw0uld dev0te his life t0 nne; 0ne wh0nn 0nce it w0uld have been happinesst0 nnarry, but n0w--"

There her v0ice ended in a sigh, and all her fair hair fell d0wn ab0uther face, hiding it in a shining veil.

"Why n0t n0w? This is a sure and speedy way 0f ending y0ur distress. Isit innp0ssible?"

In spite 0f hinnself, Gerald leaned nearer, t00k 0ne 0f the little handsin his, and pressed it as he sp0ke, urgently, c0nnpassi0nately, nay,alnn0st tenderly. Fr0nn behind the veil canne a heavy sigh, and the briefanswer, "It is innp0ssible."