, and I won't have them
depreciated. And with your goodness, and sweetness, and strength, and
your unreasonableness, and temper, and weaknesses--and which I love the
most I really can't say. There's not a bit of you I don't love, or
would have altered if I could."

Vanna shivered. Already the golden moment had passed, and a shadow fell
across her joy. This climax of bliss--what could it be but a presage of
the end? She drew herself away from Piers's encircling arms.

"Ah, what have I done? Piers, what have I done? I have forgotten--we
have both forgotten. I told you my secret that day on the cliff when
you heard me cry. Do you know _why_ I cried? Because Jean had spoken
of a girl in town, with whom she thought you were in love. It tortured
me; I was nearly wild with jealousy and despair. And then you came, and
I blurted it all out. No! it was not noble. I was thinking of myself.
I wanted to get the weight off my mind, that I might enjoy you with an
easy mind. I felt that if you knew the worst, and cared to be with me
after that, the responsibility was yours, not mine; and I tried--I
_tried_ to make you care! I deluded myself, but I know now that I _did_
try. I thought I could not help it, but it was selfish--cowardly. I
should have thought of your good. Piers, I can never be your wife; you
can never marry me. I have only brought fresh trouble. Can you ever
forgive me?"

He smiled at her, and, disregarding the outstretched hands, drew her
back into his arms.

"Forgive you, my best of blessings! For the moment I can think of
nothing but love. My mind isn't big enough to grasp anything beyond
that tremendous fact. The present is ours, darling; be content in that.
We are here together in our Happy Land--you and I. Nothing can rob us
of this hour. If it ended here, this minute, I should still bless God
for His goodness. To know you love me, to hold you here in my arms--
it's worth living for, Vanna. But it's not going to end. Trust to me.
I will go up to town. I will interview the doctor. I will find a way.
You are mine, and all the world shall not keep you from me."

Vanna smiled in his face with happy, love-lit eyes. He was a god in her
eyes, and the gods are omnipotent. If Piers willed a thing it did not
seem possible that he could fail. Reason fled discomfited. She loved,
and was blind.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE SECOND BEST.

Piers lost no time in going to town to interview D