, believe me
when I tell you that this thing shall never--can never--come between
us."

She caught her breath sharply; but still she refused to look up. "Then
you don't understand," she said. "You--you--can't understand
that--that--I was--his--his--" Her voice failed. She caught his hand in
both her own, pressing it hard over her face, writhing in mute shame
before him.

"Yes, I do understand," Merryon said, and his voice was very quiet, full
of a latent force that thrilled her magnetically. "I understand that
when you were still a child this brute took possession of you, broke you
to his will, did as he pleased with you. I understand that you were as
helpless as a rabbit in the grip of a weasel. I understand that he was
always an abomination and a curse to you, that when deliverance offered
you seized it; and I do not forget that you would have preferred death
if I would have let you die. Do you know, Puck"--his voice had softened
by imperceptible degrees; he was bending towards her so that she could
feel his breath on her neck while he spoke--"when I took it upon me to
save you from yourself that night I knew--I guessed--what had happened
to you? No, don't start like that! If there was anything to forgive I
forgave you long ago. I understood. Believe me, though I am a man, I can
understand."

He stopped. His hand was all wet with her tears. "Oh, darling!" she
whispered. "Oh, darling!"

"Don't cry, sweetheart!" he said. "And don't be afraid any longer! I
took you from your inferno. I learnt to love you--just as you were,
dear, just as you were. You tried to keep me at a distance; do you
remember? And then--you found life was too strong for you. You came back
and gave yourself to me. Have you ever regretted it, my darling? Tell me
that!"

"Never!" she sobbed. "Never! Your love--your love--has been--the
safety-curtain--always--between me and--harm."

And then very suddenly she lifted her face, her streaming eyes, and met
his look.

"But there's one thing, darling," she said, "which you must know. I
loved you always--always--even before that monsoon night. But I came to
you then because--because--I knew that I had been recognized, and--I was
afraid--I was terrified--till--till I was safe in your arms."

"Ah! But you came to me," he said.

A sudden gleam of mirth shot through her woe. "My! That was a night,
Billikins!" she said. And then the clouds came back upon her,
overwhelming her. "Oh, what is there to la