“If you are set on it you shall stay away from me for a time, as you suggest. I’m not going to force you into anything. I might do it, and we might settle down—quite comfortably. But we shouldn’t ever be happy. Not as I want to be happy. So I’ll let you go. Oh, not for ever, Elizabeth! I couldn’t do that, and you mustn’t ask me to. You don’t hate me; I’m sure of that. It’s only that you— haven’t learned the meaning of Love. You won’t learn it if I make you come back to me against your will. I see that. But I want you to remember, Elizabeth, that if I chose I could make you. Instead of that, I suggest that we—agree to separate for a time. I won’t try to see you or worry you in any way during that time, but if you feel—that you don’t mean, after all, what you’ve said today, I want you to send for me. I want you to promise that you will. If at the end of the time—you still feel the same—I suppose—we shall have to—make some sort of an—arrangement. Will you agree to that? If you won’t, then I shall take you home with me to-day.”

“Yes, oh yes!” she breathed thankfully. Then she realised the sacrifice Stephen was willing to make for her sake, and the hope he cherished. Some unknown impulse made her say quickly, “Stephen—I shan’t change! It’s— it’s not fair to you—this arrangement. Let—let me go now—altogether!”

“I can’t. You wouldn’t be able to understand if I explained. Just believe that I can’t.”

She was holding fast to her courage. Again she managed to speak frankly.

“I—don’t want to—lead you on—under false pretences! I’ve—I’ve done enough of that! You’ll—hope—all the time—and it’ll be—no good!”

“I’m willing to risk that. I’m going into this with my eyes open. Only, Elizabeth, I want you to think it over all the time, sanely. Don’t let—other people—influence you. If you’re happy without me—I’ll—I’ll set you free. But if you’re not, if you’re lonely, or miserable, then send for me. Promise me that!”

She had tried to make him see how she felt; she had tried to be honest. She could do no more.

“Yes, Stephen. I—I promise.”

His hand tightened on hers.