n desperation.

Tresler put his pipe aside.

"It doesn't seem to me he likes anybody very much, unless it's Jake.
And I wouldn't bet a pile on the affection between them."

"He likes Jake better than anybody else. At least he trusts him."

"Which is a fair equivalent in his case. But what makes you think he
dislikes me more than most people?"

"You remember that night in the kitchen, when you asked me to----"

"Marry? Yes. Could I ever forget it?"

Tresler had taken possession of one of the small hands lying in the
girl's lap, but she gently withdrew it.

"I was weeping, and--and you saw the bruises on my arms. Father
disapproved of my talking to you----"

"Ah! I understand." And he added, under his breath, "The brute!"

"He says I must give you up."

Tresler was looking straight before him at the window. Now he turned
slowly and faced her. His expression conveyed nothing.

"And you?"

"Oh, it is so hard!" Diane burst out, in distress. "And you make it
harder. Yes," she went on miserably, "I have to give you up. I must
not marry you--dare not----"

"Dare not?"

The question came without the movement of a muscle.

"Yes, he says so. Oh, don't you see? He is blind, and I--I am his
only--oh, what am I saying?"

Tresler shook his head.

"I'm afraid you are saying a lot of--nonsense, little woman. And what
is more, it is a lot of nonsense I am not going to take seriously. Do
I understand that you are going to throw me over simply because he
tells you to?"

"Not only because of that."

"Who told him about us?"

"I don't know."

"Never mind. Perhaps I can guess. You have grown tired of me already?"

"You know I haven't, Jack."

Diane put out a hand and gently laid it on one of his. But his
remained unresponsive. This sudden awakening from his dream of love
had more than startled him. It had left him feeling resentful against
somebody or something; at present he was not sure who or what. But he
meant to have it out, cost what it might.

"That's all right, then," he said. "Now, tell me this other reason."
Suddenly he leant forward and looked down into her eyes. His hands,
now thin and delicate, held hers tightly in a passionate clasp, and
his face was alight with the truth and sincerity of his love.
"Remember," he said, "this is no child's play, Danny. I am not the man
to give you up easily. I am weak, I know; but I've still got a fight
in me, and so long as I am assured of your love, I swear not