Andy stood silent for a moment, not offering to take the letter from her hand. She had foreseen that he might hesitate, knowing what he did; she had even thought that his hesitation might give her an opportunity. Feigning to notice nothing in his manner, she went on, "I must add that I shall be glad if you'll give it to him when he's alone, and if you won't mention it. It relates to a private matter." Andy spoke slowly. "I'm not sure you'd choose me to carry it if you knew--" "I do know; at least I never had much doubt, and I've had none since a talk we had together at Halton. Do you remember?" "I didn't say anything about it then, did I?" asked Andy. She smiled. "Not in so many words. You saw a great piece of foolishness--the first and last, I need hardly tell you. I'm very much ashamed of it. In that letter I ask Mr. Harry to forget all about it, and to remember only that I am, and want to go on being, Vivien's friend." It sounded well, but Andy was not quite convinced. "It's some time ago now. Mightn't you just ignore it?" "As far as he's concerned, no doubt I might; but I rather want to get it off my own conscience, Mr. Hayes. It'll make me happier in meeting him. I shall be happier in meeting you too, after this little talk. Somehow that wretched bit of silliness seems to have made an awkwardness between us, and I want to leave Nutley good friends with every one." She sounded very sincere; nay, in a sense she was sincere. She was ashamed; she did want to end the whole matter--unless that unexpected answer came. At any rate she was--or sounded--sincere enough to make Andy hold out his hand for the letter. "I'll take it and give it to him as you wish, Miss Vintry. I'm bound to say, though, that, if apologies are being made, I think Harry's the one to make them." "We women are taught to think such things worse in ourselves than in men. Men get carried away; they're allowed to, now and then. We mustn't." The appeal to his chivalry--another wrong to woman!--touched Andy. "That's infernally unfair!" "It sometimes seems so, just a little. I'm sincerely grateful to you, Mr. Hayes." She held out her hand to him. "You won't think it necessary to mention to Mr. Harry all I've told you? I don't think he was so sure as I was about--about your presence. And somehow it makes it seem worse if he knew that you--" "I shall say nothing whatever, if he doesn't," said Andy, as he shook hands. "Thank you again. I don't think I dare risk asking you to be friends--real friends--yet; but I may, perhaps, on the wedding day." "I've never been your enemy, Miss Vintry." "No; you've been kind, considerate"--her voice dropped--"merciful. Thank you. Good-bye."