"Because—— Oh, Tabs, you do want me, don't you? Because I daren't trust myself to see him."
"And so you want me to tell him we're engaged because you daren't trust yourself to tell him! Isn't that it?"
She nodded.
"And you daren't trust yourself to tell him because the moment you saw him you would fall again under his spell?"
This time she didn't nod, but her eyes gave assent.
"And what does that mean, little Terry? Whether you call it love or fascination, it means that even though you do not see him, your heart is his at present. It means that against your will he's infinitely more to you than I am. It means that you
only ask me to become engaged to you in order that you may be strong to break his spell. It doesn't mean that I will be anything more to you to-morrow than I was last night, when you gave him your pledge."
She tried to speak, but he halted her words. "I'm older than you are. Have you thought of that? I'm not the man I was; I'm lame. You can like me as a friend and believe me indispensable; but, if I were your husband, fifteen years from now when you're only the age I am to-day—— Have you considered that? My dear, I love you so well, that I'll never let you tie yourself to me, till you're as certain that you can't risk meeting me without loving me as you're certain at this moment that you daren't risk meeting this other man. When you can do that——"
The tenderness in his eyes hurt her. "Directly I can do that, I'll tell you, Tabs. And—and I believe I could almost tell you now."
"If you can now," he said, "there's a test. Will you take my place at lunch and tell Braithwaite?"