ccupied way. But a little later, she acknowledged to
herself that this was not the whole truth. There was habit to fight
against--habit which could still give her hours of
self-forgetfulness--and one could not forgo, all at once, and under no
pressing necessity to do so, this means of escape from the
cheerlessness of life.

But not for long did matters remain at this negative stage. Whereas,
until now, the touch of her lips had been sufficient to chase away the
shadows, the moment came, when, as he held her in his arms, Maurice was
paralysed by the abrupt remembrance: she has known all this before. How
was it then? To what degree is she mine, was she his? What fine,
ultimate shade of feeling is she keeping back from me?--His ardour was
damped; and as Louise also became aware of his sudden coolness, their
hands sank apart, and had no strength to join anew.

Thus far, he had gone about his probings with skill, questioning her in
a roundabout way, trying to learn by means of inference. But after
this, he let himself go, and put a barefaced question. The subject once
broached, there was no further need of concealment, and he flung tact
and prudence to the winds. He could not forget--he was goaded on
by--the look she had given him, as the ominous words crossed his lips:
it made him conscious once more of the unapproachable nature of that
first love of hers. He grew reckless; and while he had hitherto only
sought to surprise her and entrap her, he now began to try to worm
things out of her, all the time spying on her looks and words, ready to
take advantage of the least slip on her part.

At first, before she understood what he was aiming at, Louise had been
as frank as usual with him--that somewhat barbarous frankness, which
took small note of the recipient's feelings. But after he had put a
direct question, and followed it up with others, of which she too
clearly saw the drift, she drew back, as though she were afraid of him.
It was not alone the error of taste he committed, in delving in matters
which he had sworn should never concern him; it was his manner of doing
it that was so distasteful to her--his hints and inuendoes. She grew
very white and still, and looked at him with eyes in which a nascent
dislike was visible.

He saw it; but it was now too late. Day by day, his preoccupation with
the man who had preceded him increased. The thought that continued to
harass him was: if she had never known the other, all woul