e can never marry, but we love each
other, and mean to take what happiness remains. No one ever forbade me
to be engaged."

"How can you be engaged? What for? Engaged _not_ to be married? It's
absurd. What could you say? How could you explain? What would people
think?"

Vanna laughed--a short, hard laugh. Still Jean had not congratulated
her, nor said one loving word.

"If it is a false position, it is just those `people' of whom you speak
who force us into it. The conventions of society don't allow a man and
a woman to enjoy each other's society undisturbed. To be engaged is the
only way in which they can gain the liberty. Therefore that is the way
we must take. There is nothing else to be done."

"And--when you _don't_ marry? You are both well off, and not too young.
People will expect you to marry at once, and when you don't--"

"That is our own affair. They will be told at the beginning that it
will be a long engagement, and however much they may wonder among
themselves, they will hardly have the impertinence to question us on the
subject. I imagine they will be polite, and kind, and congratulate us.
I don't think there will be many who will hear the news without speaking
_one_ kind word."

The inference was undisguised--was intended to be undisguised. Jean
flushed again, and knitted her delicate brows.

"I don't mean to be unkind, but it sounds so wild, so impracticable, so
utterly unlike you, Vanna. Where will you live? How can you meet? You
are only twenty-five. People are so ready to talk. What do you propose
to _do_?"

"To go on with our lives. I have money, thank goodness. I must have a
little house--it won't be rich and luxurious like yours--just a little
corner where I can put my things, and feel at home. I must make a
sacrifice to convention and have a sheep dog, too, I suppose--some
lonely woman like myself, who will be thankful for a home. She can look
after the servants, and the cleaning, and understand from the first that
she leaves _me_ alone. Then I shall find some work. I have an idea
working out in my head which I hope will bring interest and occupation.
And Piers shall come to see me. We shall have a place where we can meet
in peace and comfort."

"Vanna, you won't have peace--it's impossible. Oh, I know it's hard
that your life should be spoiled, terribly, terribly hard; but remember
what the doctor said--that you had no right to spoil the man's life
also.