!"

"Nothing is actually impossible. Listen, little maid. She sent me here
to you to talk sense, as she put it. That meant she sent me here to ask
you to marry me, and I meant to do it. I think perhaps you know why"--he
lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it--"but I shan't now, I never
shall. Little girl, we're going to be what we've always been, the best
and truest of friends, and I've got to find a way to help you and Tom--"

"Hugh, if you told her that you were married, and not free, she wouldn't
give another thought to opposing Tom and me--it is only because she
wants me to marry you that she opposes Tom! Oh, Hugh, if--if--if you
could, if it were possible!" She was trembling with excitement, and the
sweet colour was coming and going in her cheeks.

"Supposing I did it?" he said, and spoke his thoughts aloud. "Of course
it would be a shock to her, perhaps she wouldn't believe!"

"She would believe anything you said..."

"It is rather a rotten thing to do," he thought, "yet...." He looked at
the bright, eager face, it would make her happy; he knew that what she
said was true--Lady Linden would not oppose Tom Arundel if marriage
between Marjorie and himself was out of the question. It would be making
the way clear for her: it would be giving her happiness, doing her the
greatest service that he could. Of his own sacrifice, his own
disappointment he thought not now; realisation of that would come later.

At first it seemed to him a mad, a nonsensical scheme, yet it was one
that might so easily be carried out. If one doubt was left as to
whether he would do it, it was gone the next moment.

"Hugh, would you do--would you do this for me?"

"There is very little that I wouldn't do for you, little maid," he said,
"and if I can help you to your happiness I am going to do it."

She crept closer to him; she laid her cheek against his shoulder, and
held his hand in hers.

"Tell me just what you will say."

"I haven't thought that out yet."

"But you must."

"I know. You see, if I say I am married, naturally she will ask me a few
questions."

"When she gets--gets her breath!" Marjorie said with a laugh; it was the
first time she had laughed, and he liked to hear it.

"The first will probably be, How long have I been married?"

"Do you remember you used to come to Marlbury to see me when I was at
school at Miss Skinner's?"

"Rather!"

"That was three years ago. Supposing you married about then?"

"Fine