But not having finished, she resumed. "And I never shall." To that there could be but one reply. It was rough enough. Cassy did not mind, but she freed herself, undulantly, as a woman can. Unrebuffably Lennox renewed it. "Let's be married at once." Cassy smoothed her rumpled hair. "No." The monosyllable fell like a stone. Lennox kicked it. "In God's name, why not?" Cassy turned away. It was the hardest of all. Beside it, what was the gesture of the day before? "Because. Just because." "Because why?" "Because I could not live to see you regret it." "But why should I? I never shall." His hands on her shoulders, violently his eyes probed her own. She thought him so dear, but she said: "I have not cared for any one else. You have. The growth of love is slow. You cannot love me now as I love you." He wanted to shake her and nearly did. "But when you find I do?" "Ah, when that day comes, I will." "And meanwhile?" She just plucked at his sleeve. Nothing could have been more yielding. It was yielding as water, and yielding still, her eyes fell. "For your sake only. Later--if--if----" Any great astonishment is dumb and, at the moment, a whirlwind tossed his thoughts. In the swirling gale were sudden pictures; the girl's fair arms, the delight of her lips, his own desire. Tumultuously they passed. Before him flew the hazards of life, of death, and, curling there, the iniquity of leaving her afterward, as leave her he must, alone to face them. The counter-blast steadied him. Astonishment may be dumb, love is clairvoyant. "For your own sake, no. The war cannot last forever and if I return, then--then----" * * * * * Shortly, among the Victorian horrors of his gloomy rooms, she came to see him off. Mrs. Austen, who heard of everything, heard of that. "I always knew it!" she exclaimed. The dear woman had known nothing of the kind and her perspicacity amazed her. But this has nothing to do with the Paliser Case which ended before it began. * * * * * _BY EDGAR SALTUS_ HISTORIA AMORIS IMPERIAL PURPLE MARY MAGDALEN THE POMPS OF SATAN THE LORDS OF THE GHOSTLAND DAUGHTERS OF THE RICH _In preparation_ SCAFFOLDS AND ALTARS * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: Printer's error - No Chapter XVII header in text.