Ralston's car to Khanmulla." He turned deliberately back again to
Stella. "Will you come with me? Or will you go with Tommy--and the
Ralstons?"

There was neither anxiety nor persuasion in his voice. Tommy frowned
over its utter lack of emotion. He did not think his friend was playing
his cards well.

But to Stella that coolness had a different meaning. It stirred her to
an impulse more headlong than at the moment she realized.

"I will come with you," she said.

"Good!" said Monck simply, and stood back for her to pass.

She went by him without a glance. She felt as if the wild throbbing of
her heart would choke her. He had spoken in such a fashion as she had
dreamed that he could ever speak. He had spoken and she had not sent him
away. That was the thought that most disturbed her. Till that moment it
had seemed a comparatively easy thing to do. Her course had been clear.
But he had appealed to that within her which could not be ignored. He
had appealed to the inner truth of her nature, and she could not close
her ears to that. He asked her only to be true to herself. He had taken
his stand on higher ground than that on which she stood. He had not
urged any plea on his own behalf. He had only urged her to be honest.
And in so doing he had laid bare that ancient mistake of hers that had
devastated her life. He did not desire her upon the same terms as those
upon which she had bestowed herself upon Ralph Dacre. He made that
abundantly clear. He did not ask her to subordinate her happiness to
his. He only asked for straight dealing from her, and she knew that he