"It would be Hamlet without Hamlet, then," he smiled. "One could
draw up no scheme of rules and exercises, unless one has some idea
of how far the individual was responsible for the present state of
things. If it was your wish in the beginning, or if you were
coerced makes all the difference."

Stella was silent--only she nervously plucked an offending rose
which grew upon a bush beside them: she pulled its petals off and
kept her eyes lowered, and Sasha Roumovski smiled a wise smile.

"You have unconsciously answered me," he said, "and your agitation
proves that not only are you aware that you did not become engaged
of your own wish, but that you are afraid to face the fact and
admit that its aspect appals you. You must remember, in your
country, where, I understand, divorce is not tres bien vu,
especially among the clergy, the affair is for life, and the joy
or the gall of it could be infinite."

She raised two beseeching eyes to his face at last.

"Oh, do not let us talk about it," she pleaded. "It is so warm and
pleasant here--I want to be happy."

He looked at her for a while with penetrating eyes, then he said
gently:

"It is a man's province to take care of a woman," and his
attractive voice filled with a new cadence. "I see you are in need
of direction. Leave all to me--and forget there is any one else in
the world for the moment but our two selves. Did you know that I