I didn't
dare hope it. I----"
"Are you _sure_ you want me?" Annesley faltered.
"Surer than I've ever been of anything in my life before. It's only of
you I'm thinking. I wanted to arrange my--business matters so as to be
fair to you. But you'll make the best of things."
"You are being noble to me," said the girl, "and I've been very foolish.
I've complicated everything. First, by what I told Mr. Ruthven Smith
about--about _us_. And then--saying your name was Nelson Smith."
"You weren't foolish!" he contradicted. "You were only--playing into
Fate's hands. You couldn't help yourself. Destiny! And all's for the
best. You were an angel to sacrifice yourself to save me, and your doing
it the way you did has made me a happy man at one stroke. As for the
name--what's in a name? We might as well be in reality what we played at
being to-night--'Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Smith.' There are even reasons why
I'm pleased that you've made me a present of the name. I thank you for
it--and for all the rest."
"Oh, but if it isn't _really_ your name, we sha'n't be legally married,
shall we?" Annesley protested.
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