inted it out to her, as surely it was his duty to do, she had answered
him with bitter words. He had shown himself extraordinarily kind, and
she had been harsh and cruel. Perhaps he knew that she was no longer
engaged to marry Alec MacKenzie, and he must guess the reason; but since
the night of the dance he had not been near them. She looked upon what
Alec had told her as addressed to her only, and she could not repeat it
to all and sundry. When acquaintances had referred to the affair, her
manner had shown them quickly that she did not intend to discuss it. But
Robert Boulger was different. It seemed necessary, in consideration of
all that had passed, that he should be told the little she knew; and
then she thought also, seized on a sudden with a desire for
self-sacrifice, that it was her duty perhaps to reward him for his long
devotion. She might at least try to make him a good wife; and she could
explain exactly how she felt towards him. There would be no deceit. Her
life had no value now, and if it really meant so much to him to marry
her, it was right that she should consent. And there was another thing:
it would put an irrevocable barrier between herself and Alec.

Lady Kelsey was accustomed to ask a few people to luncheon every
Tuesday, and Lucy suggested that they should invite Bobbie on one of
these occasions. Lady Kelsey was much pleased, for she was fond of her
nephew, and it had pained her that she had not seen him. She had sent a
line to tell him that Lucy was no longer engaged, but he had not
answered. Lucy wrote the invitation herself.

_My Dear Bobbie:_

_Aunt Alice will be very glad if you can lunch with us on Tuesday
at two. We are asking Dick, Julia Crowley, and Canon Spratte. If
you can come, and I hope you will, it would be very kind of you to
arrive a good deal earlier than the others; I want to talk to you
about something._

_Yours affectionately,_
_Lucy._

He answered at once.

_My Dear Lucy:_

_I will come with pleasure. I hope half-past one will suit you._

_Your affectionate cousin,_
_Robert Boulger._

'Why haven't you been to see us?' she said, holding his hand, when at
the appointed time he appeared.

'I thought you didn't much want to see me.'

'I'm afrai