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 to your marriage, this sad incident comes to show how desperately he needs you, how cruel it would be to ask him to defer his happiness.&quot;

She broke off, shaken out of her habitual placidity by the abrupt withdrawal of the girl's hands. Kate sat inertly staring, but no answer rose to her lips.

At length Mrs. Peyton resumed, gathering her draperies about her with a tentative hint of leave-taking: &quot;I may go home and tell him that you will not put off the wedding?&quot;

Kate was still silent, and her visitor looked at her with the mild surprise of an advocate unaccustomed to plead in vain.

&quot;If your silence means refusal, my dear, I think you ought to realize the responsibility you assume.&quot; Mrs. Peyton's voice had acquired an edge of righteous asperity. &quot;If Denis has a fault it is that he is too gentle, too yielding, too readily influenced