"Then, if I were to believe all the difficulties and uncertainties
would be made straight and just go on calmly, I should be happy,
should I?" she asked, and there was an unconscious pathos in her
voice which touched him deeply.

"Certainly," he answered. "You have not had a fair chance--
probably you have never been allowed to do a single thing of your
own accord--have you?"

"N--no," said Stella.

"In the beginning, were you engaged to this good clergyman of your
own wish?" and his eyes searched her face.

She stiffened immediately, the training of years took offense, and
she answered rather stiffly:

"I do not think you have the right to ask me such a question,
Count Roumovski."

He was entirely unabashed--he stroked his pointed silky beard for
a moment, then he said calmly:

"Yes--I have, you agreed that I should teach you how to shape your
life as you pleased, you must remember. It is rather essential
that I should know the truth of this matter before I can go
further--you must see that."

"We can avoid the subject."