“And what do you mean by that?” he demanded to know.

“Only that my feelings and ideals of honor are not to be bartered like a bale of cotton or a stack of timber! As to that, I wonder that you hold yourself so lightly you can consider marrying without love.”

“I cannot expect you to love me yet; it is too soon. But one day you will; I know it.”

“Why so? Because it is convenient for Oaks and Beulah Land?”

“No! Because I love you so much.” He paused then, seeing tears come into her eyes. “Forgive me. I have been as thoughtless and blundering as they. You will, of course, do as you please and as your heart directs. Only—I have loved you forever, Rachel. Even knowing it hopeless, knowing you were promised to Adam, I could not stop myself from loving you. I have been tormented by guilt because of it, for it seemed disloyal—and I loved Adam too. Not only because he was my brother, but because he was Adam. I reject what you are doing, for Adam’s sake as much as my own. You have no right to let Adam’s child be born a bastard when I who love both of you offer you my heart and my hand! Oh, Rachel, you don’t have to pretend to love me. Only say you don’t hate me for what I propose. And be my wife, because without you there is nothing ahead for me but loneliness.”

“You say you love me for myself?” Her voice trembled as she said the words.

“Yes, damn it! Have I not spoken plain enough?”

She almost smiled. “Yes, you have spoken plain. If you mean all that you say—”

“How can you doubt me?”

“Then I shall marry you.”

“Thank God! You do mean it?”

“I mean it.”

The tears were now in his eyes. “Oh, my dearest Rachel! How I have longed to call you that and called you so in my dreams.” She held out her hands to him; he took them and pulled her to her feet. “I am too rough and awkward. But I love you, Rachel, you know I do.” He kissed her hands. She hesitated and then kissed him gently on the cheek. When she drew her head back to look at him seriously, she suddenly smiled her first real smile since her illness. “James, I hope it will not ever be necessary, but should it fall to you to propose again, don’t do it any differently.”

“What on earth do you mean?”

And so there was a wedding at Beulah Land, although with a change of one of the principals, and not as soon as had been expected. The county society which Rachel had been ready to offend was satisfied as to the event, although not allowed to witness it.