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"Is there no chance?" he asked

Perplexed with her own e of his low-voiced question at first escaped her; then, like its own echo, caain as he repeated it: "Is there no chance for me, Miss Landis?"

The very revulsion of self-possession returning chilled her; then anger ca her words coolly enough: "What chance do you ive it to erous

"For you"

Then, in spite of her, her senses beca confusion seeh which his voice, as if very far away, sounded again: "Men who are worth a fighting chance ask for it sometimes--but take it always I take it"

Her pallor faded under the flood of bright colour; the blue of her eyes darkened ominously to velvet

"Mr Siward," she said, very distinctly and slowly, "I am not--even--sorry--for you"

"Then my chance is desperate indeed," he retorted coolly

"Chance! Do you ier choked her

"Are you not a little hard?" he said, paling under his tan "I supposed woently--even such a man as I am"

For a full minute she strove to couely; "you mean--" a crimson wave dyed her skin to the temples and she leaned toward him in horror-stricken contrition; "I didn't ht of that! It had no weight, it was not in hts I meant only that you had assumed what is unwarranted--that you--your question huAsk yourself why I risk everything to say this to you? There can be only one answer"

Then after a long silence: "Have I ever--" she began trely--"ever by word or look--"

"No"

"Have I even--"

"No I've si about when you asked ht do this too soon; but I meant to do it anyway before it became too late"

"It was too late from the very ain, she added quickly: "I mean that I had already decided Why will you take what I say so dreadfully different from the way I intend it? Listen to me I--I believe I am not very experienced yet; I was a--astonished--quite stunned for a moment Then it hurt me--and I said that I was not sorry for you … I am sorry, now"