ouble. But
it is over. You may have made mistakes. But they are over, too. Tell me
nothing! Leave the past alone! Only give me your present and your future.
I shall be quite content."

He paused. She was shivering within his encircling arm. He could hear her
breath coming and going very quickly.

"You love me, darling," he said. "And is it necessary for me to tell you
that I worship you as no one ever has worshipped you before?"

He paused again. But Mab did not speak. The beautiful face was working
painfully. Her hands were tightly clasped in his.

"Child, what is it?" Merefleet said, conscious of a hidden barrier
between them. "Can't you trust yourself to me? Is that it? Are you afraid
of me? You didn't shrink from me yesterday."

She bowed her head. Yesterday she had wept in his arms. But to-day no
tears came. Only a halting whisper, a woman's cry of sheer weakness.

"Don't tempt me, Big Bear!" she murmured. "Oh, don't tempt me! I am
not--free!"

Merefleet's face grew stern.

"You did not say that yesterday," he said.

She heard the change in his tone, and looked up. She was better able to
meet this from him.

"I know," she said. "And I guess that was where I went wrong. I ought to
have waited till we were dead. But, you see, I didn't know."

"Then do you tell me you are not free?" Merefleet said. "Do you mean
literally that? Are you the actual property of another man?"

She shook her head with baffling promptitude.

"I guess I'm just Death's property, Big Bear," she said, with a wistful
little smile. "But he doesn't seem over-keen on having me."

"Stop!" said Merefleet harshly. "I won't have you talk like that. It's
madness. Tell me what you mean!"

"I can't," Mab said. "I can't tell you. It wouldn't be fair. Don't be
angry, Big Bear! It's just the price I've got to pay. And it's no use
squirming. I've worried it round and round. But it always comes back to
that. I'm not free. And no one but Bert must ever know why."

Merefleet sprang to his feet with an impatience by no means
characteristic of him.

"This is intolerable!" he exclaimed. "You are wrecking your life for an
insane scruple. Child, listen! Tell me nothing whatever! Give yourself
to me! No one shall ever take you away again. That I swear. And I will
make you so happy, dear. Only trust me!"

But Mab covered her face as if to shut out a forbidden sight.

"Big Bear, I mustn't," she said, with a sharp catch in her voice. "I've
done ver