“Simply this, that my resolution was taken before you spoke to me that day at all. If I had felt it right to go back, I hope I should have gone, and done my duty to the best of my power, but I felt that it was neither right nor desirable. It is unfortunate for me, from your point of view, that duty and pleasure both pointed the same way in this case, but I can’t help it. I can only give you my word. If you will accept that, it’s all right, but if not---- Well, it’s for you to decide.” “To decide what?” asked Nadia, sharply. “The question I have asked you once or twice already. I could not expect you to marry me if you didn’t believe my word.” “I do believe your word,” said Nadia. “No, don’t touch me,” drawing herself away from him as he took a step forward, “that is not the question to be decided. You know what I am--you have seen during this last month how truly hateful I can be when I take a thing into my head; you see that I was not even ready to trust you, after all that you have done. And I can’t promise to be any better--a little time ago I thought that I should never be unreasonable and foolish again, and now I have been worse than ever. Why don’t you say that you have been mistaken in me, and let us part? I know I have deserved it--I will never utter a word against you if you decide that this time I have tried even your patience too far. What do you say?” “This,” replied Caerleon, promptly, taking her hands in his and kissing her. “Why do you want me to punish myself?” “Don’t--please don’t,” cried Nadia, bursting into tears again. “You don’t know all the wicked things I have thought. I believed that you had been consulting Lord Cyril about the kingdom, and that he had advised you to do just as you liked, and not care whether it was right or wrong. I know he doesn’t like me, and I thought he would be glad to get you to do anything that I wanted you not to do. I meant to refuse you again, even if it broke my heart.” “And I haven’t a doubt you’d have done it,” said Caerleon, “but you are a little hard on Cyril. It is due to him that we have had this explanation at all, for he told me he was sure that there was something that came between us, and advised me to speak to you. And you do believe me now, dear, don’t you?” “Indeed I do,” said Nadia, smiling through her tears, “and I hope you will always be my friend; but I am not going to marry you. I am such a wretch. I shall make your life miserable.” “Are you going to start with that determination?” asked Caerleon, “because it would be rude of me to say that you couldn’t make me miserable if you tried. But if you are only judging from past experience--well, I have been making you cry just now, but I hope I shan’t be such a brute as to do it again. We must both turn over a new leaf.”