wledge of the world and the proper treatment of such a case--but
when it came to the head of the family with all the influence of the
family behind her, then instant submission seemed inevitable.

Clare was forced to realise that instant submission was very far away
indeed, and that the girl sitting quietly in the window showed little
sign of yielding. She sat up a little straighter in her chair and her
voice was a little sharper.

"It seems then, Miss Feverel, that it is a question of terms. But why
did you not say so before? I would have told you at once that we are
willing to pay a very considerable sum for the return of the letters."

Dahlia's face flushed, and after a moment's pause she rose from her
chair and walked towards Clare.

"Miss Trojan," she said quietly, "I have no intention of taking money
for them--or, indeed, of taking anything."

"I'm sure," broke in Clare, flushing slightly, "_I_ had no intention
of----"

"Ah--no, I know," went on Dahlia. "But it is not, I assure you, a case
for melodrama--but a very plain, simple little affair that is happening
everywhere all the time. You say that you cannot understand why I
should wish to keep the letters. Let me try and explain, and also let
me try and urge on you that it is really no good at all trying to
change my mind. It is now several days since I had my last talk with
Robin, and I have, of course, thought a good deal about it--it is
scarcely likely that half-an-hour's conversation with you will change a
determination that I have arrived at after ten days' hard thinking.
And surely it is not hard to understand. Six months ago I was happy
and inexperienced. I had never been in love, and, indeed, I had no
idea of its meaning. Then your nephew came: he made love to me, and I
loved him in return."

She paused for a moment. Clare looked sympathetic. Then Dahlia
continued: "He meant no harm, no doubt, and perhaps for the time he was
quite serious in what he said. He was, as you say, very young. But it
was a game to him--it was everything to me. I treasured his letters, I
thought of them day and night. I--but, of course, you know the kind of
thing that a girl goes through when she is in love for the first time.
Then I came here and went through some bad weeks whilst he was making
up his mind to tell me that he loved me no longer. Of course, I saw
well enough what was happening--and I knew why it was--it was the
family at his back."

A mu