'Because I know that you were very much in love with him,' he answered. Lucy flushed. But she had much more to say. 'I was very unjust to you on the night of that dance. You were right to speak to me as you did, and I was very foolish. I regret what I said, and I beg you to forgive me.' 'There's nothing to forgive, Lucy,' he said warmly. 'What does it matter what you said? You know I love you.' 'I don't know what I've done to deserve such love,' she said. 'You make me dreadfully ashamed of myself.' He took her hand, and she did not attempt to withdraw it. 'Won't you change your mind, Lucy?' he said earnestly. 'Oh, my dear, I don't love you. I wish I did. But I don't and I'm afraid I never can.' 'Won't you marry me all the same?' 'Do you care for me so much as that?' she cried painfully. 'Perhaps you will learn to love me in time.' 'Don't be so humble; you make me still more ashamed. Bobbie, I should like to make you happy if I thought I could. It seems very wonderful to me that you should want to have me. But I must be honest with you. I know that if I pretend I'm willing to marry you merely for your sake I'm deceiving myself. I want to marry you because I'm afraid. I want to crush my love for Alec. I want to make it impossible for me ever to weaken in my resolve. You see, I'm horrid and calculating, and it's very little I can offer you.' 'I don't care why you're marrying me,' he said. 'I want you so badly.' 'Oh, no, don't take me like that. Let me say first that if you really think me worth having, I will do my duty gladly. And if I have no love to give, I have a great deal of affection and a great deal of gratitude. I want you to be happy.' He went down on his knees and kissed her hands passionately. 'I'm so thankful,' he murmured. 'I'm so thankful.' Lucy bent down and gently kissed his hair. Two tears rolled heavily down her cheeks. * * * Five minutes later Lady Kelsey came in. She was delighted to see that her nephew and her niece were apparently once more on friendly terms; but she had no time to find out what had happened, for Canon Spratte was immediately announced. Lady Kelsey had heard that he was to be offered a vacant bishopric, and she mourned over his disappearance from London. He was a spiritual mentor who exactly suited her, handsome, urbane, attentive notwithstanding her mature age, and well-connected. He was just the man to be a bishop. Then Mrs. Crowley appeared. They waited a little, and presently Dick was announced. He sauntered in jauntily, unaware that he had kept the others waiting a full quarter of an hour; and the party was complete.