"What's the use of discussing? You can't discuss Godfrey out of existence!" "Not out of existence--practically speaking?" "Oh, no! Nonsense! Of course not!" She was genuinely vexed and troubled now. "All right. Don't fret," he said, smiling. "It can wait." She looked at him gravely, her lips just parted. "You do complicate things!" she murmured. "You'd rather I'd held my tongue about it?" "Yes, I would--much." "I couldn't, you see, any longer. I've been wanting to say it for six months. Besides, I think I'm the sort of fellow who's bound to have a thing like that out and see what comes of it--follow it to the end, you know." She thought that he probably was; there lay the trouble. The thing itself was pleasant enough to her, but she did not want to follow it out. If only he would have left it where it was--under the surface, a pleasant sub-consciousness for them both, blending with their friendship a delightful sentiment! Dragged into the open like this, it was very hard to deal with. "Can't you try and forget about it?" she whispered softly. "Oh, my dear!" he muttered, laughing in a mixture of amusement and exasperation. She understood something of what his tone and his laugh meant. She gave him a quick little nod of sympathy. "Is it as bad as that? Then my question was stupid," she seemed to say. But though she understood, she had no suggestion to offer. She sat with her brows furrowed and her lips pursed up, thoroughly outfaced by the difficulty. "You go back home to-morrow, don't you?" he asked. "Yes. And you?" "In a few days. I've not quite finished my business. Do you want me to come to the house as usual?" "Oh yes," she answered quickly, her brow clearing. "In the hope that I shall get over it?" "Yes." "I shan't, you know." "You can never tell. Godfrey was in love with me once. I was in love with him too." Her expression plainly added what her lips refrained from: "Isn't that funny?" He shrugged his shoulders, in refusal to consider so distasteful a subject. Her mind appeared to dwell on it a little, for she sat smiling reflectively. She had recovered quickly from her alarmed discomfort; in fact she seemed so at ease, so tranquil, that he was prompted to say--saying it, however, with a smile--"I didn't introduce the topic just to pass the time after lunch, you know." He paused and then added gravely but simply, "I want you to look back on this as the greatest day in your life." Ever so slightly she shook her head. The room was nearly empty now; the few who lingered were no less absorbed than themselves. He put his hand on the top of her right hand on the table. "There's my pledge for life and all I'm worth--if you will," he said.