"Oh, he had no chance," Boyne answered.

She was still struggling with a dimly felt perplexity at the back
of her thoughts.

"How long ago was it withdrawn?"

He paused, as if with a slight return of his former uncertainty.
"I've just had the news now; but I've been expecting it."

"Just now--in one of your letters?"

"Yes; in one of my letters."

She made no answer, and was aware only, after a short interval of
waiting, that he had risen, and strolling across the room, had
placed himself on the sofa at her side. She felt him, as he did
so, pass an arm about her, she felt his hand seek hers and clasp
it, and turning slowly, drawn by the warmth of his cheek, she met
the smiling clearness of his eyes.

"It's all right--it's all right?" she questioned, through the
flood of her dissolving doubts; and "I give you my word it never
was righter!" he laughed back at her, holding her close.



III