against her will.

She closed her fingers very tightly upon his hand, but she said nothing.

He sat silent for several seconds, closely watching her, seeking to read
her downcast eyes. But she would not raise them. Her heart was beating
very quickly, and her breath came and went like the breath of a
frightened bird.

At last very gently he moved, drew her to him, put his arm about her.
"Are you afraid of me, Chris?"

She nestled to him with a little gesture that was curiously pathetic.
With her face securely hidden against him, she whispered, "Yes."

"My darling, why?" he said very tenderly.

"I don't know why," murmured Chris.

"Surely not because I love you?" he said.

She nodded against his shoulder. "You ought not to love me like that.
It's too much. I'm not good enough."

"My little girl," he said, "I am not worthy to hold your hand in mine."

His hand was on her hair, stroking, fondling, caressing. She nestled
closer, without lifting her face.

"You don't know me in the least. I'm not a bit nice really. I get up to
all sorts of pranks. I'm wild and flighty. Ask Aunt Philippa if you want
to know."

"I know you better than Aunt Philippa, dear," he said.

"Oh no, you don't. You've only seen my good side. I'm always on my best
behaviour with you."

"Another excellent reason for marrying me," said Mordaunt.

"Oh, but I shan't be always. That's just it. You--you will be quite
shocked some day."

"I will take the risk," he said.

"I don't think you ought to," murmured Chris. "It doesn't seem quite
fair."

His hand pressed her head very gently. "Meaning that you don't love me?"
he said.

She made a vehement gesture of denial. "Of course not. I--I'd be a little
beast if I didn't, specially after the way you helped me with Cinders
long ago. I never forgot that--never! Only I do think--before you marry
me--you ought to know how horrid I can be. It--it's buying a pig in a
poke if you don't."

He laughed again at that in a fashion that emboldened Chris to raise her
head.

"I am quite in earnest," she told him, in a tone that tried to be
indignant. "You'll find me out presently. And when you do--"

She stopped with a gasp. His arms were about her, holding her as she
sat. He looked straight down into the shining blue eyes. "When I do,
Chris--" he said.

She met his look quite bravely. She was even smiling rather tremulously
herself. "You will get a stick and beat me," she said. "I know. People
who