Alice shook her head. "I am not sure. I must go back some time or another, as father won't let me remain away for ever. Besides I really think that I shall grow weary of pleasure. Blue skies and constant sunshine bore one." "Yes, I quite understand. But remember when you come back you will again be exposed to the attentions of that old mummy." Alice shuddered. "Don Pablo? Is he as often at Tremore as ever?" "More often. And when he isn't at Tremore, your father goes to his cottage on the moors. I can't understand why your father likes him so much. There seems to be something evil about Narvaez." "Oh!" Alice laid a trembling hand on his arm; "have you felt that also?" "Yes. I'm not a sensitive chap as a rule, but Narvaez makes me uncomfortable--just like Mr. Hyde in Stevenson's story, you know. Whatever you do, don't consent to be his wife, Alice." "I certainly shall not, whatever my father may say. At the worst I can always marry you." "That isn't a compliment," murmured Hardwick, mortified. "Well, you know what I mean. I respect you and like you, even if I don't love you, Julian. And if I did marry you I should never give you cause to complain of coldness on my part." "Oh, Alice"--his face lighted up. "No! No! No! The compact still stands. Until I am driven into a corner we are only brother and sister." "Of course. It's an odd arrangement." "Well, I admit that, and only a really kind-hearted, sensible man such as you are would understand and keep to such an arrangement. Sometimes I think I am doing wrong in holding you to our compact, but on reflection I don't think that I am doing wrong. If you loved me as a man should love a woman, it would be different and then I should be playing with fire. But you don't." "No," said Julian honestly, "you are quite right. I like you: I have a deep affection for you, and at all costs would protect your happiness. But I am quite sure now that I don't love you in the way you would like to be loved." Alice drew a deep breath of relief. "How nice to hear you talk so reasonably, Julian. We quite understand one another, don't we?" "Quite," he hesitated, and then spoke softly. "Have you seen any one who----" "Of course I haven't," interrupted the girl hastily; "you said that I should meet with no one to suit me here. Not that I am looking out for a husband, you know, Julian!" "I do know. All the same you are sure to come across Prince Charming some day, and then I shall surrender my guardianship to him. You are certain to choose some nice fellow, who won't mind our continuing our brother and sister arrangement when you are Mrs. Somebody." "H'm!" said the girl dubiously; "if Mr. Somebody loves me, he may object to a triangle of that sort. Besides, you may marry yourself, Julian." "I may," said Hardwick in his stolid way, "but at present I am at your service as a stop-gap husband if Don Pablo and your father drive you into a corner, Alice."