eaty. "Hugh, don't--don't! I can't listen to you. I married Jeff
Ironside this morning."

His hand fell. He stared at her as if he thought her mad.
"You--married--Jeff Ironside! I don't believe it!"

She clenched her hands tightly to still her agitation. "But it's true,"
she said.

"Doris!" he said.

She nodded vehemently, keeping her eyes on his. "It's true," she said
again.

He straightened himself up with the instinctive movement of a man
bracing himself to meet a sudden strain. "But why? How? I didn't even
know you knew the man."

She nodded again. "He helped me once when I was out cubbing, and I went
to his house. After that--when he heard that I had nothing to live
on--he came and asked me if I would marry him. And I was very miserable
because nobody wanted me. So I said 'Yes.'"

Her voice sank. Her lips were quivering.

"I wanted you," Hugh said.

She was silent.

He bent slowly towards her, looking into her eyes. "My dear, didn't you
really know--didn't you understand?"

She shook her head; her eyes were suddenly full of tears. "No, Hugh."

He held out his hand again and took hers. "Don't cry, Doris! You haven't
lost much. I shall get over it somehow. I know you never cared for me."

She bent her head with some murmured words he could not catch.

He leaned nearer. "What, dear, what? You never did, did you?"

He waited for her answer, and at last through tears it came. "I've been
struggling so hard, so hard, to keep myself from caring."

He was silent a moment, and again it was as if he were collecting his
strength for that which had to be endured. Then slowly: "You thought I
wasn't in earnest?" he said. "You thought I didn't care enough?"

She did not answer him in words; her silence was enough.

"God forgive me!" whispered Hugh....

There came the thud of horses' hoofs upon the grass, and his hand
relinquished hers. He turned to see Jeff Ironside barely ten paces away,
leading the two animals. Very pale but wholly collected, Hugh moved to
meet him.

"I have just been hearing about your marriage, Ironside," he said. "May
I congratulate you?"

Jeff's eyes, with the red sunlight turning them to a ruddy brown, met
his with absolute directness as he made brief response. "You are very
kind."

"Doris and I are old friends," said Hugh.

"Yes, I know," said Jeff.

Spasmodically Doris turned and joined the two men. "We hope Mr. Chesyl
will come and see us sometimes, don't we, Jeff?" she sa