"As far as that goes," said Winn, "I swallowed that down all right. It's no use bothering about a thing that isn't there. It's what is that counts. It counts damnably, I can tell you that. Look here, have you ever had any ideas about love?" "I can't say that I have," Lionel admitted cautiously. "Many. I dare say I should like it if it came; and I've had fancies for girls, of course, but nothing so far I couldn't walk off, not what people call the real thing, I suppose. I've always liked women more than you have, and I don't think you get let in so much if you honestly like 'em. I haven't seen any one I particularly want to marry yet, if that's what you mean?" "That's part of it," agreed Winn. "I supposed you'd been like that. I shouldn't wonder if what you say about liking 'em being safer, isn't true. I never liked 'em. I've taken what I could get when I wanted it. I rather wish I hadn't now, but I can't say I was ever sorry before. Even--Estelle--well, I don't want to be nasty about her--but it was only different, I can see that now, because I knew I couldn't get what I wanted without marrying her--still--I somehow think I'd made a kind of a start that time--only I got pulled up too short. I dare say I quite deserved it. That's no way of liking a woman. When you do _really_, you know all the rest's been half twaddle and half greed. Your father and mother are all right--so are mine really, though they do blow each other's heads off--still, there's something there--you know what I mean?" "Something indestructible and uniting--" said Lionel quietly. "I've often wondered about it." "Well, I've never wondered about it," said Winn, firmly, "and I'm not going to begin now. Still, I admit it's there. What I'm getting at is that there's something I want you to do for me. You'll probably think I'm mad, but I can't help that. It'll work out all right in the end, if you'll do it." "You can ask me anything you like," said Lionel, quietly; "any damned thing. I don't suppose I'll refuse to do it." The water broke into a prolonged gurgle under their feet; it sounded uncannily like some derisive listener. There was nothing in sight at all--not even their shadows on the unlighted snows. "Well--there's a girl here," Winn said in a low voice; "it's not very easy to explain. I haven't told her about Estelle; I meant to, but I couldn't. I'm afraid you'll think I haven't played the game, but I haven't made love to her; only I can't stay any longer; I've got to clear out." Lionel nodded. "All right," he said; "let's go wherever you like; there are plenty of other snow places jollier than this." "That isn't what I want," said Winn. "I want you to stay with her. I want you to marry her eventually--d' you see? It's quite simple, really." "By Jove," said Lionel, thoughtfully; "simple, d' you call it? As simple as taking a header into the mid-Atlantic! And what good would it do you, my dear old chap, if I did? It wouldn't be you that had got her?"