utterly destroyed, and no one would ever see it.

At the thought he laughed and she drew back, very startled.

"Oh, what is the matter?" she exclaimed.

"Nothing," he answered. "Nothing in all the world except that I
love you."



CHAPTER XVIII

ROBERT DUNN'S ENEMY


When he had said this he went a step or two aside and sat down on
the stump of a tree. He was very agitated and disturbed for he had
not in the very least meant to say such a thing, he had not even
known that he really felt like that.

It was, indeed, a rush and power of quite unexpected passion that
had swept him away and made him for the moment lose all control
of himself. Ella showed much more composure. She had become
extraordinarily pale, but otherwise she did not appear in any way
agitated.

She remained silent, her eyes bent on the ground, her only movement
a gesture by which she rubbed softly and in turn each of her wrists
as though they hurt her.