"I think," I said, "that if you fancy Colonel Ray is different you should ask him about it." She shook her head dejectedly. "I cannot," she said. "Sometimes I am frightened of Colonel Ray. It is like that just now." "But you should try and get over it," I said gently. "He has strange moods, but you should always remember that he is the man whom you are going to marry. There ought to be every confidence between you, and I know--yes, I know that he is very fond of you." She leaned a little forward. Her hair was a little dishevelled, her face was almost haggard. Her under lip was quivering like a child's. "I am afraid of him," she sobbed out suddenly. "I am afraid of him, and I have promised to marry him. Can't somebody--help me?" Her head fell suddenly forward and was buried in her hands. Her whole frame shook with convulsive weeping, and then suddenly a little white hand shot out towards me. She did not look up, but the hand was there, timid, yet inviting. I dropped on my knee by her side, and I held it in mine. "Dear Lady Angela," I murmured. "You must not give way like this, you must not! Ray is not used to women, and you are very young. But he loves you, I know that he loves you." "I don't--want him to love me," she sobbed. "Oh, I know that I am foolish and wicked and childish, but I am afraid of him." I kept silence, for my own battle was a hard one. The little hand was holding fast to mine. She lay curled up in the corner of the chair, her face hidden, her slim delicate figure shaking every now and then with sobs. All the while I longed passionately to take her into my arms and comfort her. "Don't!" I begged. "Oh, don't. Ray has told me his story. He has made me his confidant. He has told me how unhappy he has been, and how he loves you. Oh, Lady Angela, what is there I can say? What can I do?" I was losing my head a little, I think, for her fingers were gripping mine convulsively, warm and tender little fingers which seemed to be drawing me all the while closer to her. "I am so miserable," she murmured. Then suddenly her other arm was around my neck, her wet tear-stained face was pressed to mine. I scarcely knew how it happened, but I knew that she was in my arms, and my lips were pressed to hers. A sudden, beautiful wave of colour flooded her cheeks; she smiled gladly up at me. She gave a delicious little sigh of satisfaction and then buried her face on my shoulder. Almost at the same moment Ray entered the room.