g
face. Something in the action touched him, his face changed, and he made
a sudden passionate movement toward the trembling figure standing there
with hidden eyes. In another moment his arms would have been round her.
Her muffled voice saying, 'I'm glad. I'm glad,' checked him. He stood
bewildered, making with noiseless lips the word '_Glad?_' She was 'glad'
he hadn't tired of her rival? The girl brushed the tears from her eyes,
and steadied herself against the table.

'She went away from you, then?'

The momentary softening had vanished out of Geoffrey Stonor's face. In
its stead the look of aloofness that few dared brave, the warning 'thus
far and no farther' stamped on every feature, he answered--

'You can hardly expect me to enter into----'

She broke through the barrier without ruth--such strength, such courage
has honest pain.

'You mean she went away from you?'

'Yes!' The sharp monosyllable fell out like a thing metallic.

'Was that because you wouldn't marry her?'

'I couldn't marry her--and she knew it.' He turned on his heel.

'Did you want to?'

He paused nearly at the window, and looked back at her. She deserved to
have the bare 'yes,' but she was a child. He would soften a little the
truth's harsh impact upon the young creature's shrinking jealousy.

'I thought I wanted to marry her then. It's a long time ago.'

'And why couldn't you?'

He controlled a movement of strong irritation. 'Why are you catechizing
me? It's a matter that concerns another woman.'

'If you say it doesn't concern me, you're saying'--her lip
trembled--'saying that you don't concern me.'

With more difficulty than the girl dreamed, he compelled himself to
answer quietly--

'In those days--I--I was absolutely dependent on my father.'

'Why, you must have been thirty, Geoffrey.'

'What? Oh--thereabouts.'

'And everybody says you're so clever.'

'Well, everybody's mistaken.'

She left the table, and drew nearer to him. 'It must have been terribly
hard----'

Sounding the depth of sympathy in the gentle voice, he turned towards
her to meet a check in the phrase--

'----terribly hard for you both.'

He stood there stonily, but looking rather handsome in his big, sulky
way. The sort of person who dictates terms rather than one to accept
meekly the thing that might befall.

Something of that overbearing look of his must have penetrated the
clouded consciousness of the girl, for she was saying--

'You! a man