arm's length?"

"Do I?" she questioned softly, gazing down at the lily pads.

"You know you do. Why?"

"Well--because."

"Because what?"

"Oh, well, just--because."

"Hermione--tell me."

"Well, everything is so strange--so unreal! This great house, the
servants, all the beautiful clothes you bought me! To have so very much
of everything after having to do with so very little--it's all so
wonderful and--dreadful!"

"Dreadful?"

"You are so--dreadfully rich!"

"Is that the reason you keep me at such a distance? Is that why you
avoid me?"

"Avoid you?"

"Yes, dear. You've done it very sweetly and delicately, but you have
avoided me lately. Why?"

Hermione didn't answer.

"And you haven't touched any of the monthly allowance I make you," he
went on, frowning a little, "not one cent. Why, Hermione?"

Hermione was silent.

"Tell me!"

Still she was silent, only she bent lower above the pool and drew
further from him, whereat his pale cheek flushed, and his frown grew
blacker.

And presently, as he scowled down into the water, she stole a look at
him, and when she spoke, though the words were light, the quiver in her
voice belied them.

"Invalid, dear, if you want to be angry with me, wait--till you're a
little stronger."

Ravenslee stooped and picked up a handful of small pebbles that chanced
to lie loose.

"Wife, dear," said he, "I'm as well and strong as ever I was. But I've
asked you several questions which I mean you to answer, so I am going to
give you until I have pitched all these pebbles into the water, and
then--" Hermione glanced up swiftly.

"Then?" she questioned.

"Why then, if you haven't answered, I shall--take matters into my own
hands. One!" and a pebble splashed into the pool.

"What do you want to know?"

"Two! Why haven't you condescended to take your allowance?"

"Dear, I--I didn't need it, and even if I had, I--oh, I couldn't take
it--yet!"

"Three! Why not?"

"Because you have given me so much already, and I--have given
you--nothing."

"Four! Why--haven't you?"

"Oh--well--because!"

"Five! What does 'because' mean, this time?"

"It means--just--because!"

"Six! Seven! Eight! Why have you avoided me lately?"

Hermione was silent, watching him with troubled eyes while he slowly
pitched the pebbles into the pool, counting as they fell.

"Nine! Ten! Eleven! Twelve! Why do you keep me at arm's length?"

"I don't--I--I--you won't let me--" she said a li