"That's fine."

"Possibly. I don't believe much in Palmer's business ventures."

Her flat tone still held him. Underneath it he divined strain and

repression.

"I hate to go and leave you alone," he said at last from the door. "Have

you any idea when Palmer will be back?"

"Not the slightest. K., will you come here a moment? Stand behind me; I

don't want to see you, and I want to tell you something."

He did as she bade him, rather puzzled.

"Here I am."

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"I think I am a fool for saying this. Perhaps I am spoiling the only

chance I have to get any happiness out of life. But I have got to say it.

It's stronger than I am. I was terribly unhappy, K., and then you came

into my life, and I--now I listen for your step in the hall. I can't be a

hypocrite any longer, K."

When he stood behind her, silent and not moving, she turned slowly about

and faced him. He towered there in the little room, grave eyes on hers.

"It's a long time since I have had a woman friend, Christine," he said

soberly. "Your friendship has meant a good deal. In a good many ways, I'd

not care to look ahead if it were not for you. I value our friendship so

much that I--"

"That you don't want me to spoil it," she finished for him. "I know you

don't care for me, K., not the way I--But I wanted you to know. It doesn't

hurt a good man to know such a thing. And it--isn't going to stop your

coming here, is it?"

"Of course not," said K. heartily. "But to-morrow, when we are both

clear-headed, we will talk this over. You are mistaken about this thing,

Christine; I am sure of that. Things have not been going well, and just

because I am always around, and all that sort of thing, you think things

that aren't really so. I'm only a reaction, Christine."

He tried to make her smile up at him. But just then she could not smile.

If she had cried, things might have been different for every one; for

perhaps K. would have taken her in his arms. He was heart-hungry enough,

those days, for anything. And perhaps, too, being intuitive, Christine

felt this. But she had no mind to force him into a situation against his

will.

"It is because you are good," she said, and held out her hand.

"Good-night."




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