older than you are.
That's why I don't want to get married--as most girls do. I never ought
to marry. I know too much."

"But you'll marry me?" he said swiftly.

"I don't know," she said. "Not anyway yet. If--if you can stick to me for
six months--I--p'raps I'll think about it. But I think you'll come to
your senses long before then, Bunny." A desolate little note of humour
sounded in her voice. "And if you do, you'll be so glad not to have to
throw me over."

"You're talking rot," he interposed.

"No, I'm not. I'm talking sense--ordinary common sense. I wouldn't get
engaged to any man on the strength of what happened to-night. You hadn't
even thought of me in that way when we came up here."

"I'm not so sure of that," said Bunny. "Anyway, the mischief is done now.
And you needn't be afraid I shall throw you over because--" an unexpected
throb came into his voice--"I know now I've simply got to have you."

Toby sighed again. "But if--if I'm not worth waiting for, I'm not worth
having," she said.

"But why wait?" argued Bunny.

"For a hundred reasons. You're not really in love with me for one thing."
Toby spoke with conviction.

"Yes, I am." Stubbornly he contradicted her.

"No, you're not. Listen, Bunny! Love isn't just a passion-flower that
blooms in a single night and then fades. You're too young really to
understand, but I know--I know. Love is more like a vine. It takes a
long while to ripen and come to perfection, and it has a lot to go
through first."

Again a sense of strangeness came to Bunny. Surely this was a grown woman
speaking! This was not the wild little creature he knew. But--perhaps it
was from perversity--her warning only served to strengthen his
determination.

"You can go on arguing till midnight," he said, "you won't convince me.
But look here, if you don't want anyone to know, we'll keep it to
ourselves for a little while. Will that satisfy you? We'll meet and have
some jolly times together in private. Will that make you any happier?"

"We shan't be engaged?" questioned Toby.

"Not if you'll kiss me without," said Bunny generously.

"Oh, I don't mind kissing you--" she lifted her lips at once, "if it
doesn't mean anything."

He stooped swiftly and met them with his own. His kiss was close and
lingering, it held tenderness; and in a moment her arms crept round his
neck and she clung to him as she returned it. He felt a sob run through
her slight frame as he held her though she