urt!

Dan's eyes met her own.

"Yes," he said. "I love her." He paused a moment, then added: "I asked
her to go away with me."

June stared at him dumbly. The whole thing seemed unreal. She could
not feel as though what Dan was saying had any relation to herself, any
bearing on their life together. At last:

"Why didn't you go, then?" she heard herself say--at least, she supposed
she must be saying it, although the voice didn't sound a bit like her
own.

Dan turned on her with sudden savagery. His nerves were raw.

"You speak as though you were disappointed," he said roughly.

"No. But if you care for Miss Vallincourt and she cares for you, I'm
wondering what stopped you."

"She doesn't care for me"--shortly.

June felt a thrill of pure joy. If Magda didn't care, then she could win
him back--win back her husband! Within her she was instinctively aware
that if Magda _had_ cared, no power of hers could have won back Dan's
allegiance. A faint doubt assailed her.

"She--she _seemed_ as if she cared?" she ventured.

Dan nodded indifferently.

"Yes. I was a summer holiday's amusement for her."

"And--was that all?"

As June spoke, her direct gaze sought her husband's face. He met it fair
and square, unflinchingly.

"That's all," he replied quietly.

She crossed the room swiftly to his side.

"Then, if that's all, Dan, we--we won't speak of it again--ever," she
said steadily. "It--it was just a mistake. It need never come
between us. You'll get over it, and I"--her small head reared itself
bravely--"I'll forget it."

The pathetic courage of her! Storran turned away with a groan.

"No," he answered. "I shan't 'get over it.' When a man loves a woman as
I love Magda he doesn't 'get over it.' That's what I meant when I told
you she had robbed you."

"You _will_ get over it, Dan," she persisted. "I'll help you."

"You can't," he returned doggedly. "You, least of all! Every touch of
your hand--I should be thinking what her touch would have meant! The
sound of your step--I'd be listening for hers!"

He saw her wince. He wanted to kick himself for hurting her like this.
But he knew what he intended doing; and sooner or later she must know
too. It would be better for her in the long run to face it now than to
be endlessly waiting and hoping and longing for what he knew could never
be.

"Dan, I'll be very patient. Don't you think--if you tried--you could
conquer this love of yours for Miss Vallincourt?"