"Ah, Christine," he said sadly, "I never thought that I should make you
weep like this."

"Oh, it's not your fault, Bertie." She smiled at him, with quivering
lips. "It's just life. But--dearest--I want you to know all the
same--that I'm glad--I'm glad I love you so. And--whether it's right or
wrong, I can't help it--I shall always love you--best of all."

His eyes shone at the words. A passionate answer sprang to his lips, but
he stopped it unuttered. "We are not responsible for that which we cannot
help," he said instead. "Only--my darling"--for the first time the
English word of endearment passed his lips, spoken almost under his
breath--"never permit the thought of me to come between you and your
husband. Be faithful, Christine--be faithful!"

She made no answer of any sort; but her eyes were hopeless.

He waited a while, still holding her hands while tenderly he watched her.
At last, "I must go, _cherie_," he whispered.

Her face quivered. Suddenly and impetuously as of old she spoke. "Bertie,
once--long ago--you meant to marry me, didn't you?"

His own face contracted. "Do not let us torture ourselves in vain," he
urged her gently.

"But it is true!" she persisted.

He hesitated an instant. "Yes, it is true," he said.

She leaned her head back, looking him straight in the eyes. There was a
light in hers that he had never seen before. They gleamed like stars,
seeing him only. "Bertie," she said, and her voice thrilled upon the
words, "I was yours then, and I am yours now. I have always belonged
to you, and you to me. Bertie, I--am coming with you."

His violent start testified to the utter unexpectedness of her
announcement. Such a possibility had not, it was obvious, suggested
itself to him. He turned white to the lips.

"Christine!" he stammered incredulously.

Feverishly she broke in upon his astonishment. "Oh, don't be shocked! It
is absolutely the only way. I cannot stay here without you. Trevor will
keep us apart. He will not let me even write to you. He says that our
friendship must cease. And it cannot--it cannot! Bertie, don't you see?
Don't you understand? Don't you--want me?"

A note of despair rang in her voice. Her hands suddenly gripped each
other in agonized misgiving. But on the instant his gripped closer,
holding them crushed against his breast in fierce reassurance. His eyes
shone full into hers, and for one moment of fiery rapture which both were
to remember all their lives their s