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gone. Mrs. Holmes is back at Tirau. Did you know?”

He shook his head.

“No, but I’m glad, for your sake.”

“Do you love me, Rodney?”

“You know it.”

“How should I know it when you’ve treated me as you have?”

“I’ve been a fool. First I thought I couldn’t give up my freedom. And then, when I knew you meant everything to me, I told myself it wouldn’t work—our marriage. You’re too good for me. I’ve always known that in my heart, though I wouldn’t admit it. I fought against it. I’m just a rough sort of chap, and I’ve never been very steady. And I thought Holmes wanted you———”

“He’d never have wanted me.”

“Wouldn’t he? I think he would. And Waring, didn’t he ask you too? Well, what sort of a match would I have been compared to them? You said yourself———”

“Ah! Don’t bring that up against me—all that I’ve said,” she answered swiftly. “You wounded my pride when you told me that you didn’t want to marry me—and I said things that perhaps I didn’t altogether mean—things to hurt you.”

“It was true what you said about the difference between us. Your friends weren’t mine. But I made up my mind that I could know the same sort of people you know.”

“Oh, it’s so small, all that!”

“I know it is. And it was small of me wanting to show you.”

“Well, you’ve done it—isn’t that enough?”