ow I'm always rating him, but he's
such a good chap. You--you love him, don't you?"

"Yes," she said.

"God bless you for that!" he said earnestly. "I can't tell you what he is
to me--can't explain. But--but--"

"I--understand," she said.

"What?" He stared at her for a moment. "What--do you understand?"

"I know what he is to you," she said gently. "I have known--for a long
time. Never mind how! Nobody told me. It just came to me one day."

"Ah!" Impulsively he broke in. "You see everything. I'm afraid of
you, Juliet. But look here! You won't--you won't--make him
suffer--for my sins?"

Her hand pressed his arm. "What am I?" she said. "Have I any right to
judge anyone? Besides--oh, besides--do you think I could possibly go
to him if I did not feel that nothing on earth matters now--except
our love?"

She spoke with deep emotion. She was quivering from head to foot. He bent
very low to kiss the hand upon his arm.

"And you will have your reward," he said huskily. "Don't forget--it's
the only thing in life that really counts! There's nothing
else--nothing else."

Juliet stood quite still looking down at the bent grey head. "I wonder,"
she said slowly, "I wonder--if Dick--in his heart--thinks the same!"

CHAPTER IX

THE ANSWER

The August dusk had deepened into night when the open car from the Court
pulled up at the schoolhouse gate. The school had closed for the summer
holidays a day or two before. No lights shone in either building.

"Do you mind going in alone?" whispered Jack. "I can't show here. But
I'll wait inside the park-gates to take you back."

"You needn't wait," Juliet said. "I shall spend the night at the
Court--unless I am wanted here."

She descended with the words. She had never liked Jack Green, and she was
thankful that the rapid journey was over. She heard him shoot up the
drive as she went up the schoolhouse path.

In the dark little porch she hesitated. The silence was intense. Then,
as she stood in uncertainty, from across the bare playground there
came a call.

"Juliet!"

She turned swiftly. He was standing in the dark doorway of the school.
The vague light of the rising moon gleamed deathly on his face. He did
not move to meet her.

She went to him, reached out hands to him that he did not take, and
clasped him by the shoulders. "Oh, you poor boy!"

His arms held her close for a moment or two, then they relaxed.

"I don't know why I sent for you," he said.

"