ce roughened again: "Nan--Nan--"

He broke off huskily and, casting a swift glance at his face, she
realised that the tide which had been gradually rising throughout the
foregoing weeks of close companionship had suddenly come to its full
and that no puny effort of hers could now arrest and thrust it back.

Roger had risen to his feet. His face was rather white as he stood
looking down at her, and the piercing eyes beneath the oddly sunburnt
brows held a new light in them. They were no longer cold, but burned
down upon her with the fierce ardour of passion.

"What is it?" she whispered. The words seemed wrung from her against
her will.

For a moment he made no answer, and in the pulsing silence which
followed her low-breathed question Nan was aware of a swiftly gathering
fear. She would have to make a decision within the next few
moments--and she was not ready for it.

"Do you know"--Roger spoke very slowly--"Do you know what it would have
meant to me if you had been killed just now?"

Nan shook her head.

"It would have meant the end of everything."

"Oh, I don't see why!" she responded quickly.

"Don't you?" He stooped over her and took her two slight wrists in
his. "Then I'll tell you. I love you and I want you for my wife. I
didn't intend to speak so soon--you know so little of me. But this
last hour! . . . I can't wait any longer. I want you, Nan, I want you
so unutterably that I won't _take_ no."

She tried to rise from the sofa. But in an instant his arms were round
her, pressing her back, tenderly but determinedly, against the cushions.

"No, don't get up! See, I'll kneel here beside you. Tell me, Nan,
when will you marry me?"

She was silent. What answer could she give him--she who had found one
man's love vain and betwixt whom and the man she really loved there was
a stern barrier set?

At her silence a swift fear seized him.

"Nan," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "Nan, is it--no good?"
Then, as she still made no answer, he let his arms fall heavily to his
side.

"God!" he muttered. And his eyes held a blank, dazed look like those
of a man who has just received a blow.

Nan caught him by the arm.

"No, no, Roger!" she cried quickly. "Don't look like that! I didn't
mean--"

The sudden expression of radiance that sprang into his face silenced
the remainder of the words upon her lips--the words of explanation that
should have been spoken.

"Then you do care, after