im into the hall, deliberately closing the door of the
drawing-room behind her.

"We must have our little tea another day," she said recklessly. She
did not look at him. "It was too bad being interrupted like that."

She hardly knew what she was saying. Her cheeks were scarlet, her eyes
were feverish. Kettering stifled a sigh.

"Perhaps it is as well that we were interrupted," he said very gently.
He took her hand and looked down into her eyes.

"You're so young," he said, "such a child still. Don't spoil all your
life, my dear."

She raised defiant eyes.

"My life was spoilt on my wedding day," she said in a hard voice.
"I---- Oh, don't let us talk about it."

But he did not let her hand go.

"It's not too late to go back and begin again," he said with an effort.
"I know it--it must seem presumptuous for me to talk to you like this,
but--but I would give a great deal to be sure that you were happy."

"Thank you." There was a little quiver in her voice, but she checked
it instantly. She dragged her hand free and walked to the door.

It was quite dark now; she was glad that he could not see the tears in
her eyes.

"When shall I see you again?" she asked presently.

He did not answer at once, and she repeated her question: "When shall I
see you again? I don't want you to stay away so long again."

He tried to speak, but somehow could find no words. She looked up at
him in surprise. It was too dark to see his face, but something in the
tenseness of his tall figure seemed to tell her a great deal, She spoke
his name in a whisper.

"Mr. Kettering!"

He laid his hand on her shoulder. He spoke slowly, with averted face.

"Mrs. Challoner, if I were a strong man I should say that you and I
must never meet again. You are married--unhappily, you think now; but,
somehow--somehow I don't want to believe that. Give him another
chance, will you? We all make mistakes, you know. Give him another
chance, and then, if that fails----" He did not finish. He waited a
moment, standing silently beside her; then he went away out into the
darkness and left her there alone.

Christine stood listening to the sound of his footsteps on the gravel
drive. He seemed to take a long while to reach the gate, she thought
mechanically; it seemed an endless time till she heard it slam behind
him.

But even then she did not move; she just stood staring into the
darkness, her heart fluttering in her throat.

She woul