nately, but
withdrew his hand and turned his back. When he faced her, she thought
that she saw him for the first time without disguise.

"It's useless to pretend that I don't understand what you're offering,
Katharine. I admit what you say. Speaking to you perfectly frankly, I
believe at this moment that I do love your cousin; there is a chance
that, with your help, I might--but no," he broke off, "it's impossible,
it's wrong--I'm infinitely to blame for having allowed this situation to
arise."

"Sit beside me. Let's consider sensibly--"

"Your sense has been our undoing--" he groaned.

"I accept the responsibility."

"Ah, but can I allow that?" he exclaimed. "It would mean--for we must
face it, Katharine--that we let our engagement stand for the time
nominally; in fact, of course, your freedom would be absolute."

"And yours too."

"Yes, we should both be free. Let us say that I saw Cassandra once,
twice, perhaps, under these conditions; and then if, as I think certain,
the whole thing proves a dream, we tell your mother instantly. Why not
tell her now, indeed, under pledge of secrecy?"

"Why not? It would be over London in ten minutes, besides, she would
never even remotely understand."

"Your father, then? This secrecy is detestable--it's dishonorable."

"My father would understand even less than my mother."

"Ah, who could be expected to understand?" Rodney groaned; "but it's
from your point of view that we must look at it. It's not only asking
too much, it's putting you into a position--a position in which I could
not endure to see my own sister."

"We're not brothers and sisters," she said impatiently, "and if we can't
decide, who can? I'm not talking nonsense," she proceeded. "I've done
my best to think this out from every point of view, and I've come to the
conclusion that there are risks which have to be taken,--though I don't
deny that they hurt horribly."

"Katharine, you mind? You'll mind too much."

"No I shan't," she said stoutly. "I shall mind a good deal, but I'm
prepared for that; I shall get through it, because you will help me.
You'll both help me. In fact, we'll help each other. That's a Christian
doctrine, isn't it?"

"It sounds more like Paganism to me," Rodney groaned, as he reviewed the
situation into which her Christian doctrine was plunging them.

And yet he could not deny that a divine relief possessed him, and that
the future, instead of wearing a lead-colored mask, now bl