countries, perhaps. I have not studied such things enough to say.
We were all very much restricted in our reading as children, and
I honestly think, not unwisely. It is enough for the present to
repeat that I do believe, and that whatever may happen--and I
know absolutely nothing about the procedure in such cases--but
whatever may happen, I shall still be loyal; I shall always have
your interests at heart.' Her words faltered and she turned her
head away. 'You did love me once, Arthur, I can't forget that.'
The contralto voice trembled ever so little, and the gloved hand
smoothed gently the brass knob beneath.

'If,' said Lawford, resting his face on his hands, and curiously
watching the while his moving reflection in the looking-glass
before him--'if I said I still loved you, what then?

'But you have already denied it, Arthur.'

'Yes; but if I said that that too was said only in haste, that
brooding over the trouble this--this metamorphosis was bringing
on us all had driven me almost beyond endurance: supposing that I
withdrew all that, and instead said now that I do still love you,
just as I--' he turned a little, and turned back again, 'like
this?'

Sheila paused. 'Could ANY woman answer such a question?' she
almost sighed at last.

'Yes, but,' Lawford pressed on, in a voice almost naive and
stubborn as a child's, 'If I tried to--to make you? I did once,
Sheila.'