"Piers! if I do give in--I have no strength to oppose you--if I give in, swear to me that if the time comes when you regret--when you feel bound, because there is some one"--she gulped painfully--"some one else whom you could take for a wife--swear that you will be honest with me; that you will not let me spoil your life! Swear that you will tell me the truth." He smiled into her troubled face, taking possession of her hands in a close, comforting grasp. "What would you think if I asked the same promise of you? Can't you give me credit for as much consistency as yourself? Is it possible that I could grow tired of _you_?" But at that moment Vanna had no ears for the sweet protestations of love. Her grasp grew but the tighter, her gaze the more distressed. "Swear to me! Swear!" Piers gave a short, half-impatient laugh. "I swear it. Now are you content?" CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. A FALSE POSITION. Vanna begged a month's grace before the announcement of her engagement was made public, and before half that time had passed, had said good-bye to the seaside cottage in which she had known such peaceful, happy days, and, in response to an urgent invitation, had gone to pay a long visit to Jean. "You said the time would come when I should need you," wrote Jean, in a long pencilled scrawl, "and it has arrived! I need you badly, dear; I crave for you. At this moment I feel I must either have a kind, understanding woman near me, or die! I am so ill, Vanna, and so weak, and so frightened! It has been such a long, long time, and I never knew before what it was like to be ill. One does not grow used to it--it grows harder and harder, and the days are so eternally long. I don't apologise for asking you to exchange one invalid for another; another person might think it hard, but not you, you dear angel--it will be an inducement to you. And you'll stay until it is over, won't you, and keep house, and look after Robert, when I'm upstairs? Oh, the joy, and the ease, and the comfort it would be to see you walk in at this moment, and to know that you'd come to stay! I want you more than I've ever wanted you before; and if you say no, I'll collapse at once, and it will be your fault, and you'll repent for ever after. Wire your reply."