don't go!"

He came and stood in front of her, and she saw that his face was
grim. "What is the matter?" he said. "Surely you don't object to
a serpent like that getting his deserts for once!"

She met his look with an effort. "Oh, it's not that--not that!"
she said.

"What then? You object to me being the executioner?" He spoke
curtly, through lips that had a faintly cynical twist.

She could not answer him; only after a moment she sat up, holding
to the arms of the chair. "Forgive me for being foolish!" she
said. "I--you gave me--rather a fright, you know. I've never seen
you--like that before. I felt--it was a horrible feeling--as if
you were a stranger. But--of course--you are you--just the same.
You are--really--you."

She faltered over the words, his look was so stern, so forbidding.
She seemed to be trying to convince herself against her own
judgment.

His eyes met hers relentlessly. "Yes, I am myself--and no one
else," he said. "I fancy you have never quite realized me before.
Possibly you have deliberately blinded yourself. But you know me
now, and it is as well that you should. It is the only way to an
ultimate understanding."

She blenched a little in spite of herself. "And you--and
you--once--thrashed--Guy," she said, her voice very low, sunk
almost to a whisper. "Was it--was it--was it like--that?"

He turned sharply away as if there were something intolerable in
the question. He went to the window and stood there in silence.
And very oddly at that moment the memory of Kelly's assurance went
through her that he had been fond of Guy. She did not believe it,
yet just for the moment it influenced her. It gave her strength.
She got up, and went to his side.

"Burke," she said tremulously, "promise me--please promise me--that
you will never do that again!"

He gave her a brief, piercing glance. "If he keeps out of my way,
I shan't run after him," he said.

"No--no! But even if he doesn't--" she clasped her hands hard
together--"Burke, even if he doesn't--and even though he has
disappointed you--wronged you--oh, have you no pity? Can't
you--possibly--forgive?"

He turned abruptly and faced her. "Forgive him for making love to
you?" he said. "Is that what you are asking?"

She shivered at the question. "At least you won't--punish him like
that--whatever he has done," she said.

He was looking full at her. "You want my promise on that?" he said.

"Yes, oh yes." Very e