I must have more, or nothing."

The flood of passion surged in him again. Some trick of her voice, or
some indescribable movement of her head--the trifles which are
all-powerful over a man in love--beat down his contending reason.

"You say," he continued, "that you will make amends for your unfair
dealing. If you mean it, take the only course that shows itself.
Confess to Narramore what you have done; you owe it to him as much as
to me."

"I can't do that," said Eve, drawing away. "It's for you to tell
him--if you like."

"No. I had my opportunity, and let it pass. I don't mean that you are
to inform him of all there has been between us; that's needless. We
have agreed to forget everything that suggests the word I hate. But
that you and I have been lovers and looked--I, at all events--to be
something more, this you must let him know."

"I can never do that."

"Without it, how are you to disentangle yourself?"

"I promise you he shall see no more of me."

"Such a promise is idle, and you know it. Remember, too, that Narramore
and I are friends. He will speak to me of you, and I can't play a farce
with him. It would be intolerable discomfort to me, and grossly unfair
to him. Do, for once, the simple, honourable thing, and make a new
beginning. After that, be guided by your own interests. Assuredly I
shall not stand in your way."

Eve had turned her eyes in the direction of crowd and bustle. When she
faced Hilliard again, he saw that she had come to a resolve.

"There's only one way out of it for me," she said impulsively. "I can't
talk any longer. I'll write to you."

She moved from him; Hilliard followed. At a distance of half-a-dozen
yards, just as he was about to address her again, she stopped and
spoke--

"You hate to hear me talk of 'gratitude.' I have always meant by it
less than you thought. I was grateful for the money, not for anything
else. When you took me away, perhaps it was the unkindest thing you
could have done."

An unwonted vehemence shook her voice. Her muscles were tense; she
stood in an attitude of rebellious pride.

"If I had been true to myself then----But it isn't too late. If I am to
act honestly, I know very well what I must do. I will take your advice."

Hilliard could not doubt of her meaning. He remembered his last talk
with Patty. This was a declaration he had not foreseen, and it affected
him otherwise than he could have anticipated.

"My advice had nothing to do with