“And you couldn’t live away from it? You couldn’t imagine having to be right away from it—if I _had_ to live somewhere else?” “But why should you? You won’t have to live somewhere else. And let’s not imagine anything. Things are so lovely, so perfect, as they are. I don’t like imagining things. I can’t when _this_ is all so real.” “Katie ... Katie ... No, come closer. Much closer. I don’t care if I do hurt you. I want to. I want _you, you, you_. It’s what I said last night. Let’s marry soon—not this awful year. I feel—I don’t know—I imagine too much. I suppose—Rut I feel as though you’d escape me, as though they’d all come between and take you away. If once you were _mine_ I’d never care again. We’d stay anywhere, do anything you like. But this is so hard—to wait like this. To see you caring so much for other people, who don’t, perhaps, care for me. I _want_ you. I _want_ you—_all_ of you. And I’ve only got half.” “Half!” She laughed triumphantly. “You _have_ all of me—_all_ of me—for _ever_! Philip, how funny you are! Why, you don’t trust me! I’d wait for ever if necessary, and never doubt for an instant that anything could come between. I trust you as I trust this place.” A voice broke in upon them. Someone called. “Katherine! Katherine!” Slowly she drew away from him. “That’s mother. I must go.” He caught her hand. “Stay a little longer. They can wait.” “No, it’s mother. She wants me. Come on, Phil darling. Supper time. We’ll creep out again afterwards.” She crossed the lawn, expecting Philip to follow her. But he stayed there under the oak tree. He heard the voices laughing and calling in the lighted house. He was suddenly desperately lonely. He was frightened.... He crossed hurriedly the lawn, and as he walked he knew that what he wanted was that someone, someone who really knew him, should come and comfort him. Before he entered the hall he stopped and looked back into the dark garden. Was there someone beneath the oak, someone who watched him with an ironical, indulgent smile?... No, there was no one there. But he knew who it was that could comfort him. With a swift, sharp accusation of disloyalty he confessed to himself that it was Anna for whom, during that instant, he had looked. CHAPTER V THE FEAST Some entries in Millie’s diary: _March 12th._ Wind and rain like anything. Been in most of the day patching up the screen in my bedroom with new pictures—got them as much like the old ones as possible. Went for an hour’s tussle with the wind out to the Cross, and it was fine. Wish I could have got over to Rafiel. The sea must have been fine to-day coming in over the Peak. Father drove Philip over to Polchester in the morning. Felt bored and out of temper in the evening.