e of love
flares up within them, and doubly denied them should that flame burn
low behind the bars of matrimony? Surely it must be some cunning wile
of old Dame Nature's--whose chief concern is, after all, the
continuation of the species. She it is who knows how to deck the
peacock in fine feathers to the undoing of the plain little peahen, to
crown the stag with the antlers of magnificence so that the doe's
velvet eyes melt in adoration. And shall not the same wise old Dame
know how to add a glamour to the sons of men when one of them goes
forth to seek his mate?

Had Roger been just his normal self that afternoon--his matter-of-fact,
imperceptive self--he would never have known how to answer Nan's
half-desperate question, and the rose-garden might have witnessed a
different ending to the scene. But Mother Mature was fighting on the
side of this man-child of hers, whispering her age-old wisdom into his
ears, and the tender comprehension of his answer fell like balm on
Nan's sore heart.

"I'll keep you safe!"

It was safety she craved most of all--the safety of some stronger
barrier betwixt herself and Peter. Once she were Roger's wife she knew
she would be well-guarded. The barrier would be too high for her to
climb, even though Peter called to her from the other side.

A momentary terror of giving up her freedom assailed her, and for an
instant she wavered. Then she remembered her bargain with Fate--and
if, finally, Roger were willing to take her when he knew everything,
she would marry him.

Her hand crept out and slid into his big palm.

"Very well, Roger," she said quietly. "If--knowing everything--you
still want me . . . I'll marry you."

And as his arms closed round her, crushing her in his embrace, she
seemed to hear a distant sound like the closing of a door--the door of
the forbidden might-have-been.

CHAPTER XIII

BY THE LOVERS' BRIDGE

The usual shower of congratulations descended upon the heads of Nan and
Roger when, on their return from the rose-garden, the news of their
engagement filtered through the house-party and the little bunch of
friends who had "dropped in" for tea, sure of the unfailing hospitality
of Mallow Court. Those amongst the former who had deeper and more
troubled thoughts about the matter were perforce compelled to keep them
in abeyance for the time being.

It was only when the visitors had departed that Kitty succeeded in
getting Nan alone for a few minute