"Of course; but, Clover, surely you don't love him!" exclaimed the other, aghast.
For answer, Clover took the hand she held and pressed it against her breast. "With every throb," she said slowly.
Mildred stared, then threw herself face down on the pillow and wept with abandon.
"Dearest, please don't," exclaimed Clover, shocked.
"I must," sobbed the other. "Oh, why did we ever see him! You are all I have in the world. I hate anybody who takes you away from me."
"Nobody can, dear. You know that," returned Clover, distressed by this rare flood. She slipped her arm around the recumbent form, and interspersed her words with loving pats. "I am so disappointed, Milly. I thought you would be as happy as I am."
"I am never as happy as you are," answered the other. "I know this is abominable, but I've got to be selfish this once. I'm just envious and miserable, Clover. Why should you always be blessing people and I never? My heart is heavy, and it hurts me all the time."
In an instant Clover sank her joy in loving compassion. It was the first admission concerning Jack that Mildred had ever made.
"My poor darling, I am so sorry," she said feelingly, "and I do not see that you have done any wrong. Instead, you have been true to yourself. Anything else would have been a dreadful mistake."
Mildred was so surprised that she stopped crying suddenly. "Then Jack has told you?" she said without lifting her face, a belated sob struggling in her throat.