"Why do you want me to understand?" he said, his voice very low.

She quivered at the question, making no attempt to answer, just weeping
silently there in his hold.

He leaned towards her, albeit he was trembling with weakness. "Puck,
listen!" he said. "I do understand."

She caught her breath and became quite still.

"Listen again!" he said. "What is done--is done; and nothing can alter
it. But--your future is mine. You have forfeited the right to leave me."

She uncovered her face in a flash to gaze at him as one confounded.

He met the look with eyes that held her own. "I say it," he said. "You
have forfeited the right. You say I am free. Am I free?"

She nodded, still with her eyes on his. "I have--no claim on you," she
whispered, brokenly.

His hands tightened; he brought her nearer to him. "And when that dream
of yours comes true," he said, "what then? What then?"

Her face quivered painfully at the question. She swallowed once or twice
spasmodically, like a hurt child trying not to cry.

"That's--nobody's business but mine," she said.

A very curious smile drew Merryon's mouth. "I thought I had had