ppeared and hung, sinister against the night sky, behind the white
houses, a slip of a silver moon surveying this same cloud with anxiety
because it knew that soon its darkness would engulf it.

"I've wanted to tell you," he began again, "this long time. It's needed
courage, and things during this last year have rather taken my courage
away from me."

"You needn't be afraid," she said with a little laugh. "You ought to
know by this time that you can tell me anything, Mr. Breton."

"Yes, I do know," he said earnestly. "Of course I know. What you've been
to me all this last year--I simply can't think how I'd have kept up if
it hadn't been for you."

"Oh, please," she said.

"No, but it's true. Even with you it's been a bit of a fight."

He paused. She saw that the black cloud had already swallowed up the
moon and that a few raindrops were beginning to fall.

He went on: "You must have seen that all this time something's been
helping me. I've never spoken to you, but you've known----"

The moment had come. Her heart had surely stopped its beat and she was
glad, in her happiness, of the rain that was now falling more swiftly.

"I don't know--" he stammered a little. "It's so difficult. It's come to
this, that I must speak to somebody and you're the only person, the only
person. But even with one's best friends--one knows them so
slightly--after all, perhaps, you'll think it very wrong----"

At that word it was as though a great hammer had, of a sudden, hit her
heart and slain it. The street, shining with the rain, rose ever so
little and bent towards her.

"Wrong?" she said, looking up at him.

"Yes. I don't know about your standards--you've been always so kind to
me and put up with my faults and so I've been encouraged----"

Her relief should have awaked the gods of Olympus with its triumph.

"I've meant everything I've ever said----"

"Yes, I'm sure you have and that's why I think you'll understand. As I
say, I've got to tell someone or I'll burst. It's just this--it's my
cousin Rachel--Lady Seddon. Ever since we first met in your room she's
been my whole world. Nothing else has mattered. It's she that's kept me
all these months from going under. She's my life, my whole existence now
and in the world to come, if there is one. Oh! Thank God!" he cried.
"I've told someone at last. If you don't approve I can't help it. I know
you'll keep my secret and, after all, it's nothing very terrible. I'm
content to go