"I wish we hadn't all interrupted each other," she laughed. "_I_ was about to remark that the smoking-cap, which was originally intended to have what one may term a frieze, as well as a dado, of gold lace, will look much better without the frieze, so there's really no more to do to it. Take it, my dear, dear Jack, and wear it sometimes for my sake. And forgive a mother for what one said about Olivia's ride. Claude, I shall make another cap for you; meanwhile, let me congratulate you--again--on your noble conduct of to-day. Ah, you neither of you congratulate me on mine! Yet I am a woman, and I've kept your joint secret--most religiously--from nine in the morning to this very hour!" CHAPTER XVI "LOVE THE GIFT" Her answer was altogether astonishing; she leant back in the boat and looked him full in the face. A quick flush tinged her own, and the incomparable eyebrows were raised and arched; but underneath there was an honest tenderness which Olivia was not the girl to conceal. "Was that your water-lilies?" said she; but this was not the astonishing speech. He had lured her afloat on impudently false pretences; she had a right to twit him with that. "There are no water-lilies," he confessed; "at least, never mind them if there are. Oh, I was obliged to make some excuse! There was nowhere else where we could talk so well. I tell you again I have the cheek to love you! I can't help it; I've loved you ever since that day in London, and you've got to know it for good or bad. If it makes you very angry, I'll row you back this minute." He was resting on his oars under cover of the little island; the Towers were out of sight. "Why in the world didn't you speak yesterday?" was Olivia's extraordinary reply. "Yesterday?" faltered Jack. "It was such a chance!" "Not for me! My tongue was tied. Olivia, I was under a frightful cloud yesterday! You don't understand----" "What if I do? What if I did at the time?" "I don't see how you could," said Jack. "Instinctively," replied Olivia, to screen her mother. "I knew something was wrong, and I have since been told what. If only you had spoken then!" She dropped her eyes swiftly; the tear ran down her cheek. "But why? Why then, better than now?" "Because _I_ care, too," she whispered, so that the words just travelled to his ear. "Olivia! My--do you know what you've said? Do you mean it?" "Of course I care. I mean that much. You are different from everybody else." "Then----" "There must be no 'then.'" "But you said you cared. Tell me--I don't understand." "I can never marry you," said Olivia, looking him once more in the face. And her eyes were dry. "Why not, if it is true--that you care?"