'No, George, please do not. I am all right. I only grew giddy for a moment. Don't call a cab. I am all right now.' 'But, Marie, what happened to you? You are looking wretched now. Do let me get a cab and take you home.' 'No, no, I am quite well now. It was only a passing giddiness. I feel all right. It will be better for me to walk and keep in the air.' She had divined truly. It was for his happiness she should never see him again. All the light had gone out of the world at once. All the days would be clouded for ever; all the months of the year would be Octobers. She resumed speaking,-- 'I was saying something a moment ago. I cannot recollect what it was about.' 'Marie, Marie, do not look in that way. Do not speak in that tone. My God, what have I done to this girl!' 'Oh yes, I remember now. I recollect it all, George. Dear George, you must not distress yourself about me, about any such trifle. I know, George, you do not look on a matter of this kind as a trifle. But it really is. You want me to give you this back, don't you?' She touched the third finger of her left hand, where, under the glove, lay his ring. 'No, no, no, Marie, not that! For mercy's sake, don't smile. I think my heart is breaking. I only want you to be merciful to me. I am in great difficulties and dangers which I cannot now explain to you.' 'I do not ask you to explain anything to me, George. I only ask you to tell me what I am to do. What you tell me to do I will do, for I know you are strong and wise and noble.' He looked at her for a moment with eyes of infinite tenderness. The smile which had pained him had faded from her face, and a light of enthusiastic loyalty gleamed in her eyes. What had he done, what was he doing--to win such a love and think of losing her now? She looked pale and anxious--she, his darling! Ah, it was hard on him. But there was nothing for it but to go on now. He said aloud,-- 'No, I do not want you to give me that ring back. I want you to keep it for awhile, anyway.' For awhile--for awhile! What could he mean by 'For awhile'? 'I want you, Marie, to give me a little time--a little time.' 'A little time!' she repeated, in dreary perplexity. 'What do you mean by a little time? You have been too hasty in giving me this ring. Take it back, and you will have all time.' 'You do not understand.' 'I do not want to understand, George. You say you want time. How can I give you more time than by returning you this ring, which will make matters exactly as if you had never said more to me than to any other girl you know? I feel I am not worthy of you.' 'Marie, Marie, for Heaven's sake do not say such a thing! You not worthy of me! Monstrous! Such a thought could enter the head of only a fool.' 'Then, George, I am no better than a fool. For I know and feel I am not worthy of you; and you even, with all your splendid, manly generosity, cannot but have found out--have already found out--how inferior I am to you.'