me--that you will not be afraid to be true to your own heart. Is that
too much?"

His voice was steady again. She raised her eyes and met his look. The
passion had gone out of it, but the dominance remained. She thrilled
again to the mastery that had held Tommy back from death.

For a moment she could not speak. Then, as he waited, she gathered her
strength to answer. "I mean to be true," she said rather breathlessly.
"But I--I value my freedom too much ever to marry again. Please, I want
you to understand that. You mustn't think of me in that way. You mustn't
encourage hopes that can never be fulfilled."

A faint gleam crossed his face. "That is my affair," he said.

"Oh, but I mean it." Quickly she broke in upon him. "I am in earnest. I
am in earnest. It wouldn't be right of me to let you imagine--to let you
think--" she faltered suddenly, for something obstructed her utterance.
The next moment swiftly she covered her face. "My dear!" he said.

He led her back to the table and made her sit down. He knelt beside her,
his arms comfortingly around her.

"I've made you cry," he said. "You're worn out. Forgive me! I'm a brute
to worry you like this. You've had a rotten time of it, I know, I know.
No, don't be afraid of me! I won't say another word. Just lean on me,
that's all. I won't let you down, I swear."

She took him at his word for a space and leaned upon him; for she had no
alternative. She was weary to the soul of her; her strength was gone.