think I could have children. It would kill me.'

'All this is the result of Mrs. Fargus. I can read her ideas in every
word you say. Women like Mrs. Fargus ought to be ducked in the horse-
pond. They're a curse.'

Mildred smiled.

'You're as strong as other girls. I never heard of anything being the
matter with you. You're rather thin, that's all. You ought to go away
for a change of air. I never heard such things; a young girl who has
been brought up like you. I don't know what Harold would say--not
fitted for marriage; not strong enough to bear children. What
conversations you must have had with Mrs. Fargus; studying art, and
the rest of it. Really, Mildred, I did not think a young girl ever
thought of such things.'

'We cannot discuss the subject. We had better let it drop.'

'Yes,' he said, 'we'd better say no more; the least said the soonest
mended. You're ill, you don't know what you're saying. You're not
looking well; you've been brooding over things. You'd better go away
for a change. When you come back you'll think differently.'

'Go away for a change! Yes,' she said, 'I've been thinking over things
and am not feeling well. But I know my own mind now. I can never love
you as I should like to.'

'Then you'd like to love me. Ah, I will make you love me.. I'll teach
you to love me! Only give me the chance.'