‘Why should you be ashamed? You cannot help the curious bent of your father’s mind, nor his feebleness, which makes agitation so bad for him. We must take things as we find them, and make the best of his eccentricity. I do not think it is so very bad, after all. We quite understand one another, and we can surely be friendly conspirators in our cause, without being painfully afraid of one another.’ Roma began to smile in a tremulous sort of way. ‘You are very good to take it like that. It might have been so dreadful.’ ‘Dreadful for you, no doubt, though hardly so for me,’ he answered gallantly. Then, to put her more completely at her ease, he continued gravely, ‘No, Roma, you need not be at all afraid of me; for I had lost my heart before ever I saw you, and it is not mine now to give away. I confide in you, because I am sure that perfect frankness is best between us; but I must ask you to guard my secret jealously, for there are reasons why I cannot make it known as yet to anyone. You see, you are already my chosen confidante, and my only one.’ ‘Doesn’t Maud know?’ ‘No; and you must not tell her, please.’ ‘Of course not. I would never say a word to anyone. But—but—suppose she—_she_ were to hear something about—about _this_. Would she not—I mean, might it not do harm?’ Tor smiled, as though he were not much afraid. ‘I must risk that. No doubt it can be explained all in good time. But there is no need for many people, or any people to know of this little episode. Your father and you have very few visitors; and we shall not be likely to spread the story about. The servants may get an idea and start a rumour; but I think that is all we have to fear; and if you have no objection, I should like to tell Maud the story. I do not keep secrets from her, as a general thing.’ ‘Oh yes, tell her. I do not mind a bit. I think she ought to know.’ ‘Thank you, I will let her know how it has happened; and now that we fully understand one another, and the parts we have to play, is there anything more that I can do for you?’ Roma passed her hand across her brow, with an action that showed both weariness and bewilderment. ‘Thank you, no—I don’t think so. You have been very kind, and I am most grateful. But it seems all so strange; and when I go back to father—and—and if he talks about _this_, what am I to say?’ ‘You need say nothing, or hardly anything. Just let him go on his own way, and think his own thoughts. Leave the explanation to me when the right time comes.’ Roma looked at him mournfully. ‘You do not know him—you do not know what he is like. The right time will never come. You will never be able to do it without—— Oh, I can’t guess what will happen!’ She leaned her forehead upon her clasped hands, as if to shut out the vision her imagination had conjured up. Tor looked at her with a compassionate curiosity.