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 marrying John Fritch… and Fritch had nothing against him except that he was a nobody. John Fritch’s father had been honest; his mother had not been depraved—John Fritch himself had never killed a man, nor been behind the bars of a common jail….

Angus set his jaw. “I’ll never… speak of it… to her,” he said. “I’ll—hide it….”

Countless young men, doubtless, have made the same declaration. As well seek to hide a sunset!

Next day Angus waited with ill-concealed impatience to learn if Lydia went to Deal. It was, somehow, a matter of gravest importance to him…. Without knowing it, hope persisted in Angus Burke’s heart…. Hope always lingers….

Lydia did not go to Deal.