"I would love to think that you took an interest in teaching me how to be an author--." The faintest shrug of the shoulders--. "You don't take any interest?" "No." "Are not you very unkind?"-- "No--If you have anything to complain of in my work I will listen attentively and try and alter it." "You will never allow the slightest friendship?" "No." "Why?" "Why should I?" "I must be grateful even that you ask a question, I suppose--Well, I don't know quite myself why you should--You think I am a rotter--You despise my character--you think my life is wasted and that--er--I have undesirable friends." Silence. "Miss Sharp! you drive me crazy never answering--I can't think why you like to be so provoking!" I was stung to exasperation. "Sir Nicholas," and she put down her cup with displeasure--"If you will not keep to the subject of work--I am sorry but I cannot stay as your secretary." Terror seized me--. "I shall have to if you insist upon it--I suppose--but I am longing to be friends with you--and I can't think why you should resent it so--We are both English, we are both--unhappy--we are both lonely--." Silence!-- "Somehow I don't feel it is altogether because I am a revolting object to look at that you are so unkind--you must have seen lots like me since the war--." "I am not unkind--I think you are--May I go to my work now?" We rose from the table--And for a second she was so near to me the pent up desire of weeks mastered me and the tantalization of the morning overcame me so that a frantic temptation seized me--I _could not_ resist it--I put out one arm while I steadied myself with the other by the back of a chair, and I drew her tiny body towards me, and pressed my lips to her Cupid's bow of a mouth--And Oh God the pleasure of it--right or wrong! She went dead white when I released her, she trembled, and in her turn held on to the back of the chair--. "How dare you!" she panted--"How dare you!--I will go this minute--You are not a gentleman." The reaction came to me--. "That is it, I suppose--" I said hoarsely--"I am not a gentleman underneath--the civilization is mere veneer--and the _man_ breaks through it--I have nothing to say--I was mad, that is all. You will have to weigh up as to whether it is worth your while to stay with me or not. I cannot judge of that. I can only assure you that I will try not to err again--perhaps some day you will know how you have been making me suffer lately--I shall go to my room now, and you can let me have your decision in an hour or so--." I could not move because my crutch had fallen to the floor out of my reach--She stood in indecision for a moment and then she bent and picked it up and gave it to me. She was still as white as a ghost. As I got to the door I turned and said--.