" she said, and her voice trembled over the
tender utterance of the name. "Are you in trouble? Can't I help?"

He took her face between his hands, looking straight back into the
shining eyes. "You are the trouble, Dinah," he told her simply. "And I'd
give all I have--I'd give my soul--to make life easier for you."

She leaned towards him, and suddenly those shining eyes were blurred
with a glimmer of tears. "Life is dreadfully difficult," she said. "But
you have never done anything but help me. And, oh, Scott, I--don't know
if I ought to tell you--forgive me if it's wrong--but--but I feel I
must--" her breath came so quickly that she could hardly utter the
words--"I love you--I love you--better than anyone else in the world!"

"Dinah!" he said, as one incredulous.

"It's true!" she panted. "It's true! Eustace knows it--has known it
almost as long as I have. It isn't the only thing I have to tell you,
but it's the first--and biggest. And even though--even though--I shall
never be anything more to you than I am now--I'm glad--I'm proud--for
you to know. There's nothing else that counts in the same way. And
though--though I refused you the other day--I wanted you--dreadfully,
dreadfully. If--if I had only been good enough for you--But--but--I'm
not!" She broke off, battling with herself.

He was still holding her face between his hands, and there was something
of insistence, something that even bordered upon ruthlessness, in his
hold. Though the tears were running down her face, he would not let her
go.

"Will you tell me what you mean by that?" he said, his voice very low.
"Or--must I ask Eustace?"

She started. There was that in his tone that made her wince inexplicably.
"Oh no," she said, "no! I'll tell you myself--if--if you must know."

"I am afraid I must," he said, and for all their resolution, the words
had a sound of deadly weariness. He let her go slowly as he uttered them.
"Sit down!" he said gently. "And please don't tremble! There is nothing
to make you afraid."

She dropped into the chair he indicated, and made a desperate effort to
calm herself. He stood beside her with the absolute patience of one
accustomed to long waiting.

After a few moments, she put up a quivering hand, seeking his. He took it
instantly, and as his fingers closed firmly upon her own, she found
courage.

"I didn't want you to know," she whispered. "But I--I see now--it's
better that you should. There's no other way--of maki