er,
he felt that Victoria's present position made it difficult to be
sentimental. So they talked of indifferent things. But when they left
the restaurant and drove towards Finsbury Victoria came closer to him;
and, unconsciously almost, Cairns took her hand, which she did not
withdraw. He leant towards her. His hand grew more insistent on her arm.
She was passive, though her heart beat and fear was upon her.

'Victoria,' said Cairns, his voice strained and metallic.

She turned her face towards him. There was in it complete acquiescence.
He passed one arm round her waist and drew her towards him. She could
feel his chest crush her as he bent her back. His lips fastened on her
neck greedily.

'Victoria,' said Cairns again, 'I want you. Come away from all this
labour and pain; let me make you happy.'

She looked at him, a question in her eyes.

'As free man and woman,' he stammered. Then more firmly:

'I'll make you happy. You'll want nothing. Perhaps you'll even learn to
like me.'

Victoria said nothing for a minute. The proposal did not offend her; she
was too broken, too stupefied for her inherent prejudices to assert
themselves. Morals, belief, reputation, what figments all these things.
What was this freedom of hers that she should set so high a price on it?
And here was comfort, wealth, peace--oh, peace. Yet she hesitated to
plunge into the cold stream; she stood shivering on the edge.

'Let me think,' she said.

Cairns pressed her closer to him. A little of the flame that warmed his
body passed into hers.

'Don't hurry me. Please. I don't know what to say. . . .'

He bent over with hungry lips.

'Yes, you may kiss me.'

Submissive, if frightened and repelled, yet with a heart where hope
fluttered, she surrendered him her lips.

CHAPTER XXVI

'I DON'T approve and I don't disapprove,' snarled Farwell. 'I'm not my
sister's keeper. I don't pretend to think it noble of you to live with a
man you don't care for, but I don't say you're wrong to do it.'

'But really,' said Victoria, 'if you don't think it right to do a thing,
you must think it wrong.'

'Not at all. I am neutral, or rather my reason supports what my
principles reject. Thus my principles may seem unreasonable and my
reasoning devoid of principle, but I cannot help that.'

Victoria thought for a moment. She was about to take a great step and
she longed for approval.

'Mr Farwell,' she said deliberately, 'I've come to the concl