"
The offer was made in perfect good faith, but Andre shook his head.
"I shall never forget your kindness in making this offer, but----"; he
paused for a moment, and then went on: "I will be as open as you have
been, and will tell you the whole truth. You may think me foolish; but
remember, though I am poor, I have still my self-respect to maintain. I
love Sabine, and would give my life for her. Do not be offended at what
I am about to say. I would, however, sooner give up her hand than be
indebted for it to you."
"But this is mere madness."
"No, sir, it is the purest wisdom; for were I to accede to your wishes,
I should feel deeply humiliated by the thought of your self-denial; for
I should be madly jealous of the part you were playing. You are of high
birth and princely fortune, while I am utterly friendless and unknown;
all that I am deficient in you possess."
"But I have been poor myself," interposed De Breulh, "and perhaps
endured even greater miseries than ever you have done. Do you know what
I was doing at your age? I was slowly starving to death at Sonora, and
had to take the humblest position in a cattle ranch. Do you think that
those days taught me nothing?"
"You will be able to judge me all the more clearly then," returned
Andre.
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