e, don't you? You know--well, anyhow to a certain
extent--you know what he is, don't you?"

He paused for an answer, but Toby quivered in his arms and was silent.

He put up a hand and pressed her head closer to his breast. "He'll never
marry," he said. "He doesn't mean to. He almost told me so the other day.
But--Toby--he takes a friendly interest in you and me. He'd like us
to have each other. Don't you think"--his voice had a hint of
humour--"don't you think we might fix it up just to please him?
P'raps--someday--we may find that we're pleased ourselves as well."

"Oh, my dear!" Toby whispered.

Her arm crept round his neck, but she did not lift her head. He clasped
her more closely and went on very softly. "I love you enough to think of
your happiness first, my darling. You're not happy now. I know that all
right. But you will be--I swear you shall be--if you will marry me. You
like me just a bit, don't you? And you wouldn't be afraid to trust
yourself to me?"

"No," murmured Toby, with an effort. "I wouldn't be--afraid."

"Then you'll give me my chance?" he urged gently. "You'll put your dear
little hand into mine and trust me? Will you darling? Will you?"

But Toby was silent.

"Won't you?" he said in a whisper.

Her arm tightened about his neck. She was breathing quickly, nervously.
From across the water came the sounds of laughter and cheering, the
softened strains of the band that played on the deck of _The Blue Moon_.
Close at hand was only the low wash of the waves as they lapped against
the cliff. They floated quite alone over the dark depths, rising and
falling with the slow heave of the tide, but making no headway.

"Won't you?" Bunny said again, after a long silence.

And suddenly Toby raised her head and spoke. "I will do--whatever you
wish," she said.

There was a slight break in her voice, but it held no indecision. Her
eyes looked straight into his in the starlight. He saw them shining and
knew that they were big with tears. But she did not flinch from his look
or start as his lips came to hers. She slipped her other arm about his
neck and clasped him close.

"You'll be good to me, Bunny?" she said in a whisper.

And he answered her deeply, his lips against her own. "I will be good to
you, my darling, so help me, God!"

CHAPTER VIII

THE MAGICIAN'S WAND

"I can't think where I have seen that girl before," said Sheila
thoughtfully, drumming her fingers on the white rail, he