Then he bent down and kissed her. For a brief instant their lips met and
he felt the caress of the girl's arm about his neck.

"Oh, Robin!" she said.

That was all.

But then she drew away.

Reluctantly the man let her go. The colour had faded from his cheeks
when she looked at him again as he stood facing her in the twilight of
the billiard-room.

"Robin, dear," she said, "I'm going to hurt you."

The young man seemed to have had a premonition of what was coming, for
he betrayed no sign of surprise, but remained motionless, very erect,
very pale.

"Dear," said the girl with a little despairing shrug, "it's hopeless! We
can't afford to marry!"

"Not yet, I know," said Robin, "but I'm getting on well, Mary, and in
another year or two ..."

The girl looked down at the point of her little brogue shoe.

"I don't know what you will think of me," she said, "but I can't
accept ... I can't face ... I ..."