that. I thought you would have seen how well we'd
played our game, and that it's--up."

"I don't see--not unless you're trying to tell me that you've--that your
feelings have undergone a--"

He was still smiling rather mechanically, though he tugged nervously at
the end of his horizontal mustache. "Wouldn't it be possible--now that
everything has turned out so--so beautifully--wouldn't it be possible to
let the rest go without--without superfluous explanations?"

"I'm ready to do everything you like; but I can't help being surprised."

"That must be because I've been more successful than I thought I was. I
fancied that--when I saw how things were with you--you saw how they were
with me--and that--"

"Saw how they were with you? Do you mean?--No, you can't mean!--it
isn't--Drusilla?"

Since Drusilla would do as well as another, he still stood smiling. She
clasped her hands. Her face was all aglow.

"Oh, I should be so glad! It's only within a few days that I've
seen--how it was--with--"

He hastened to interrupt her, though he had no idea of what she was
going to say. "Then so long as you do see--"

"Oh yes; I--I begin to see. I'm afraid I've been very stupid. You've
been so kind--so noble--when all the while--"

"We won't discuss that, what? We won't discuss each other at all. Even
if you go your way and I go mine, we shall still be--"

He didn't finish, because she dropped again to the sofa, burying her
face in the cushions. It was the first time he had ever seen her give
way to deep emotion. If he had not felt so strong to carry the thing
through to the end, he would have been unnerved. As it was, he sat down
beside her, bending over her bowed head. He made no attempt to touch
her.

"I can't bear it," he could hear her panting. "I can't bear it."

"What is it that you can't bear? The pain?" She nodded without raising
her head.

"Or the happiness?" he asked, gently. She nodded again.

"That is," he went on, "pain for me--and happiness about--about--the
other chap."

She made the same mute sign of affirmation.

"Then, perhaps, that's just as it should be."

* * * * *

When Ashley got out to the road Davenant was still standing by the gate,
uncertain whether to turn back to the house or go away. Ashley continued
to smile jauntily. If he was white about the temples and sallow in the
cheeks there was no one to notice it.

"Miss Guion wants to see you," he announced