Uzzah died because he touched the Ark? Well, you
had to die.... And now"--she spread out her arms pathetically--"it's
the pride that's dead, Anthony. Dead ... dried up ... shrivelled....
And I know what I'm worth."

She stopped.

Out of the neighbouring silence floated the comfortable note of a
wood-pigeon. Clear of the shadow of the green box wall two butterflies
flitted and whirled in the hot sunshine, while a fat bumble-bee hummed
with excitement before the promise of a tall blue flag.

With his face in his hands, Anthony never moved.

"And that's all I've got to say. When I found I was wrong--well, I
didn't know there was such agony in this world.... I deserved it, I
know. Don't think I'm complaining. I deserve anything. But ... if
tears count, then I've paid--some of the score...."

The man's hands were quivering.

Looking upon him, Valerie could see that he was gazing between his
fingers.

"I'm afraid to speak," he said uncertainly. His voice was trembling
with excitement. "I'm afraid to go on. Don't think I haven't forgiven
you. I have, Valerie. I did--oh, ages ago. But ... we're skating on
terribly thin ice--terribly thin. We must go frightfully carefully,
Valerie. You've no idea how carefully." The girl stared at him. This
was uncanny--as if he could read her thoughts. He went on
breathlessly. "My dream, dear. This is what happened in my dream....
You reproached yourself in just the same handsome way. You used the
same phrases." Valerie started. "And then--after all--_something went
wrong_.... What it was, I don't know. I can't remember. And that's
the trouble. I can't remember what happened. But it's been the same
so far, and then--something went wrong...."

Valerie stood paralyzed. If Anthony was afraid to continue, she was
terrified.

With an ungracious buzz the fat bee emerged clumsily from the tall blue
flag and sailed noisily out of earshot. The sudden snap of jaws
suggested that Patch, who was waiting patiently for the walk to
proceed, forgave the flies no trespasses.

"You can't understand, dear. But you must take my word for it. I've
trodden this way before. And presently--very soon now--there's a
snare--a hole in the road. And if we go in, Valerie, it's--it's all
up. I know it. It happened in my dream.... And I'm afraid to go on."

The tremulous misery of his tone wrung the girl's heart.

Instinctively she stretched out a hand.

Anthony recoiled