"till I read
that first book of yours--_The Valley of Dry Bones_. That brought me up
short. It shocked me horribly. You cut very deep, Dicky. I'm carrying the
scars still."

He bent without words and set his lips to her forehead, keeping them
there in mute caress while she went on.

"I had just begun to play with Ivor Yardley. He was my latest catch,
and--I was rather proud of him. He didn't trouble to pursue many women.
And then--after reading that book--I felt so evil, so unspeakably
ashamed, that, when I knew he was really in earnest, I didn't throw him
off like the rest. I accepted him."

She shuddered suddenly and twined her arm about her husband's neck.

"Dicky, I--went through hell--after that. I tried--I tried very
hard--to be honourable--to keep my word. But--when the time drew
near--I simply couldn't. He always knew--he must have known--I didn't
love him. But he just wanted me, and he didn't care. And so--almost at
the last moment--I let him down--I ran away. And, oh, Dicky, the peace
of this place after all that misery and turmoil! You can't imagine what
it was like. It was heaven. And I thought--I thought it was going to be
quite easy to be good!"

"And then I came and upset it all," murmured Dick, with his lips
against her hair.

Her hold tightened. "It's been one perpetual struggle against appalling
odds ever since," she said. "If it hadn't been for--Robin--I should never
have married you."

"Yes, you would," he said quietly. "That was meant. I've realized
that since."

"I am not sure," she said. "If you hadn't been so miserable, I should
have told you the truth. You wouldn't have married me then."

"Yes, I should," he said.

She drew a little away to look into his face. "Dick, are you sure of
that?"

"I am quite sure," he said, and faintly smiled. "It's just because I am
sure, that I am with you now--instead of Saltash. It was his own test."

Her eyes met his unflinching. "Dick, you believe that Saltash and I are
just--friends?"

"I believe it," he said.

"And you are not angry with him?"

"No." He spoke with slight effort. "I am--grateful to him."

"But you don't like him?" she said.

He hesitated momentarily. "Do you?"

"Yes, of course." Her brows contracted a little. "I can't help it. I
always have," she said rather wistfully.

He bent abruptly and kissed them. "All right, darling. So do I," he said.

She smiled at him, clinging closely. "Dicky, that's the most generous
thi