"Have you really forgiven me?" he asked.

"That is all over," she said, "and forgotten. It does no good to bring
it back."

"How very good you are! I have wandered all over Europe, feeling as
though I had the brand of Cain on my forehead."

"That is nonsense," said Coquette. "Your talk of Cain, your going away,
your fears--I do not understand it at all."

"No," said he. "Nor would you ever understand without a series of
explanations I have not the courage to make."

"I do not understand," she replied; "why all this secrecy--all this
mystery?"

"And I cannot tell you now," he said.

"I wish not to have any more whys," she said impatiently. "Explanations,
they never do good between friends. I am satisfied if you come to the
Manse and become as you were once. That is sufficient."

She tried hard to keep the conversation on the level of friendship; but
when at last she turned to leave him, ere she knew, his arms were around
her, and kisses were being showered on her forehead and on her lips.

"Let me go--let me go!" she pleaded piteously. "Oh, what have we done?"

"We have sealed our fate," said he, with a haggard look. "I have fought