"It's Claude after all. Poor chap, he's awfully cut up. He blames himself so for the mistake between the two churches; but Cripps tells me it was the most natural mistake in the world. Chelsea Old Church--that was where Claude went. And he says he'll never forgive himself." "But I forgive him," said Olivia, with the first sign of emotion in her voice. She was holding one of his hands; her other was in his hair. Still he stared straight in front of him. "Of course you forgive him," he said gently. "When you come to think of it, there's nothing to forgive. Claude didn't make the facts. He only failed to discover them." "I am glad he _did_ fail," whispered Olivia. "Glad? You can't be glad! Why do you say that?" And now he turned his face to her, in his astonishment; and suddenly it was she who could not meet his gaze. "How can you be glad?" he continued to demand. "Because--otherwise--you would never--have--spoken----" "Spoken? Of course I shouldn't! It's a thousand pities I did. It makes it all the harder--now!" "What do you mean?" "Surely you see?" They had risen with a common instinct. The ice was broken; there were no more shamefaced glances. The girl stood proudly at her full height. "I see nothing. You say our engagement makes this all the harder for you; it _should_ be just the opposite." "Will nothing make you see?" cried Jack. "Oh, how am I to say it? It--it can't go on--our engagement!" "And why not?" "I am nothing--nobody--a nameless----" "What does it matter?" interrupted Olivia passionately. "Do you really think it was the name I wanted after all? You pay me a high compliment! I know exactly what you mean--know exactly what this means to you. To me it makes no difference at all. You are the man you have always been; you are the man--I--love." His eyes glistened. "God bless you for saying so! You are the one to love a man the better when he's down on his luck. I know that. Yet we must never----" "Never what?" "Marry." "Not--marry?" She stared at him in sheer amazement. "Not when we promised--only yesterday? You may break your word if you like. Mine I would never break!" "Then I must. It is not to be thought of any more. Surely you see? It's not that I have lost the money and the title; oh! you must see what it is!" "Of course I see. But I don't allow the objection." "Your people would never hear of it now; and quite right too." "My people! I am of age. I have a little money of my own, enough for us both. I can do exactly what I like. Besides, I'm not so sure about my people; you don't know my father as I know him." "He is a man of the world. He would not hear of it." "Then I must act for myself." "You must not!" "I must. Do you think I am only a fair-weather girl? I gave you my promise when all was different. I would rather die than break it now."