ou didn't care for me in that way. Are you sure you do?" For the
moment she honestly desired that he should say no.

"Quite sure," said Mr. Perrott.

"You see, I'm not as simple as most women," Evelyn continued. "I think I
want more. I don't know exactly what I feel."

He sat by her, watching her and refraining from speech.

"I sometimes think I haven't got it in me to care very much for one
person only. Some one else would make you a better wife. I can imagine
you very happy with some one else."

"If you think that there is any chance that you will come to care for
me, I am quite content to wait," said Mr. Perrott.

"Well--there's no hurry, is there?" said Evelyn. "Suppose I thought it
over and wrote and told you when I get back? I'm going to Moscow; I'll
write from Moscow."

But Mr. Perrott persisted.

"You cannot give me any kind of idea. I do not ask for a date . . . that
would be most unreasonable." He paused, looking down at the gravel path.

As she did not immediately answer, he went on.

"I know very well that I am not--that I have not much to offer you
either in myself or in my circumstances. And I forget; it cannot seem
the miracle to you that it does to me. Until I met you I had gone on in
my own quiet way--we are both very quiet people, my sister and I--quite
content with my lot. My friendship with Arthur was the most important
thing in my life. Now that I know you, all that has changed. You seem
to put such a spirit into everything. Life seems to hold so many
possibilities that I had never dreamt of."

"That's splendid!" Evelyn exclaimed, grasping his hand. "Now you'll go
back and start all kinds of things and make a great name in the world;
and we'll go on being friends, whatever happens . . . we'll be great
friends, won't we?"

"Evelyn!" he moaned suddenly, and took her in his arms, and kissed her.
She did not resent it, although it made little impression on her.

As she sat upright again, she said, "I never see why one shouldn't go
on being friends--though some people do. And friendships do make a
difference, don't they? They are the kind of things that matter in one's
life?"

He looked at her with a bewildered expression as if he did not really
understand what she was saying. With a considerable effort he collected
himself, stood up, and said, "Now I think I have told you what I feel,
and I will only add that I can wait as long as ever you wish."

Left alone, Evelyn walked up and down