e had not
raged for a full year--at thought of that same "infernal chap" whose
difficulties might not be permanent; who might even now----

Suddenly he became aware that Paul was answering his last remark.

"Yes, Theo, I can just manage it," he was saying in a voice of grave
tenderness. "It has not been easy; but the truth is that--when it came
to the wrench--I hadn't the courage to let her go quite out of my
life."

"You had not the _courage_!" Desmond flashed round on him, a gleam of
the old fire in his eyes. "It's like you to put it that way, Paul. The
real truth is that you had the courage to put mere passion under your
feet. _I_ should feel rather, in such a case, that she _must_ go quite
out of my life. There's the root difference between us. I should not
have the courage to accept friendship when I wanted--the other thing.
But we're not discussing my affairs--" He dismissed himself with a
gesture. "The point is, you'll go to Mavins and make my excuses to Sir
John."

"Yes, if you really wish it, I'll go alone, a little later on.
Only--you must furnish me with something valid in the way of excuse.
You know, as well as I do, that _you_ are first favourite with the old
man. But I take it for granted you have some good reason at the back
of your mind----"

"You're right there. I have--the strongest reason on earth." He paused
and set his teeth, bracing himself to the final effort of confession.
"What's more--I unintentionally stated it a minute ago, in plain
terms." He faced Wyndham squarely now and a dull flush mounted to his
temples. "Since the ice is broken at last, there can be nothing less
than absolute truth between us," he said simply; and there was no more
need for the clumsy machinery of speech.

Paul's eyes, that neither judged nor questioned, rested on his friend
like a benediction. In that moment he had his reward for months of
silent service, of patience strained almost to breaking point, of
anxiety that bordered on despair.

Minute after minute they sat silent, while the splendour in the west
blazed and spread till it challenged the oncoming shadow in the north;
and the near hills grown magically ethereal, stood in a shimmer of
gold, like hills of dream.

Then Desmond spoke again very quietly, without looking round.

"Now perhaps you better understand--this last year?"

"Yes, Theo, I do understand," Paul answered in the same tone, and
Desmond let out a great breath.

"God! The relief it is