, Jimmy--don't! Oh, I do love you--I do love you."

She began to cry too, and they kissed and clung together like children
who have quarrelled and are sorry.

Jimmy drew her into his arms, and they sat clasping one another in the
big arm-chair. It was a bit of a squeeze, but neither of them minded.
His arms were round her now, her head on his shoulder. He kissed her
every minute. He said that he had all the byegone years of both their
lives to make up for. He asked her a hundred times if she really loved
him; if she had forgiven him; and if she loved him as much as she had
done a month ago--two months ago; if she loved him as much as when they
were children; and if she would love him all his life and hers.

"All my life and yours," she told him with trembling lips.

He had kissed the colour back to her cheeks by this time. She looked
more like the girl he had seen that fateful night in the stalls at the
theatre. He kissed her eyes because he said they were so beautiful.
He kissed her hair.

Presently she drew a little away from him.

"But I want to talk to you," she said. She would not look at him. She
sat nervously twisting his watch-chain.

"Yes," said Jimmy. He lifted her hand and held it against his lips all
the time she spoke.

"It's about--about Mr. Kettering," she said in a whisper.

Jimmy swore--a sign that he was feeling much better.

"I don't want to hear his confounded name."

"Oh, but you must--Jimmy. I--I--he----"

"He's been making love to you----"

No answer. Jimmy took her face in his hands, searching its flushed
sweetness with jealous eyes.

"Has he?" he demanded savagely.

"N-no . . . but . . . oh, Jimmy, don't look like that. He only came up
this morning because--because Gladys is ill. He thought I ought to
know and--and--I thought I would go down and see her. But in the
train----" she faltered.

"Yes . . ." said Jimmy from between his teeth.

Christine raised her brown eyes.

"He said--he said----" Suddenly she fell forward, hiding her face
against his coat. "Oh, it doesn't matter, dear; it doesn't matter,
because it was then that I knew it was only you I wanted--only you I
loved. I knew that I couldn't bear any other man to say that he loved
me--that it was you--only you."

"Oh, my sweet!" said Jimmy huskily. He turned her face and kissed her
lips. "I don't deserve it; but--oh, Christine, do believe that there's
never been anyone like you in my life; that