e asked the question caressingly, in a low passionate voice that she
had never heard from his lips before. She did not answer, but clung more
closely to him. Smiling, he repeated the question.

'Only when you're with me, darling?'

'I've told Bobbie and my aunt that we're going to be married. They made
me suffer so dreadfully. I had to tell them. I couldn't keep it back,
they said such horrible things about you.'

He did not answer for a moment.

'It's very natural.'

'It's nothing to you,' she cried desperately. ' But to me.... Oh, you
don't know what agony I had to endure.'

'I'm glad you told them.'

'Bobby said I must be heartless and cruel. And it's true: George is
nothing to me now when I think of you. My heart is so filled with my
love for you that I haven't room for anything else.'

'I hope my love will make up for all that you have lost. I want you
to be happy.'

She withdrew from his arms and leaned back, against the corner of the
sofa. It was absolutely necessary to say what was gnawing at her
heart-strings, but she felt ashamed and could not look at him.

'That wasn't the only reason I told them. I'm such a coward. I thought I
was much braver.'

'Why?'

Lucy felt on a sudden sick at heart. She began to tremble a little, and
it was only by great strength of will that she forced herself to go on.
She was horribly frightened. Her mouth was dry, and when at last the
words came, her voice sounded unnatural.

'I wanted to burn my ships behind me. I wanted to reassure myself.'

This time it was Alec who did not answer, for he understood now what was
on her mind. His heart sank, since he saw already that he must lose her.
But he had faced that possibility long ago in the heavy forests of
Africa, and he had made up his mind that Lucy could do without love
better than without self-respect.

He made a movement to get up, but quickly Lucy put out her hand. And
then suddenly a fire seized him, and a vehement determination not to
give way till the end.

'I don't understand you,' he said quietly.

'Forgive me, dear,' she said.

She held his hand in hers, and she spoke quickly.

'You don't know how terrible it is. I stand so dreadfully alone.
Everyone is so bitter against you, and not a soul has a good word to say
for you. It's all so extraordinary and so inexplicable. It seems as if
I am the only person who isn't convinced that you caused poor George's
death. Oh, how callous and utterly heartless p