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224 RAINBOW VALLEYthat John Meredith cared a great dealfor her aftera fashion and she felt just as sure that he did notcare for her as he had cared for his first love. Shefelt that her refusal would disappoint him considerably,but she did not think it would altogether overwhelmhim. Yet she hated to make it; hated for hissake and Rosemary was quite honest with herselffor her own. She knew she could have loved JohnMeredith if if it had been permissible. She knewthat life would be a blank thing if,he refused longer to be a friend.rejected as lover,She knew that shecould be very happy with him and that she could makehim happy. But between her and happiness stood theprison gate of the promise she had made to Ellen yearsago.Rosemary could not remember her father. He haddied when she was only three years old. Ellen, whohad been thirteen, remembered him, but with no specialtenderness.He had been a stern, reserved man manyyears older than his fair, pretty wife. Five yearslater their brother of twelve died also ;since his deaththe two girls had always lived alone with their mother.They had never mingled very freely in the social lifeof the Glen or Lowbridge, though where they wentthe wit and spirit of Ellen and the sweetness andbeauty of Rosemary made them welcome guests. Bothhad what was called "a disappointment" in their girlhood.The sea had not given up Rosemary's lover;and Norman Douglas, then a handsome, red-haired