“But you don't understand,” she pleaded earnestly.

“On the contrary, I understand perfectly,” I assured her. “And the reason I am not disturbed is—you are here, you are not with him.”

She lowered her head so that I had no view of her face.

“You and he do not marry,” I went on, “because you are both poor?”

“No,” she replied.

“Because he does not care for you?”

“No—not that,” she said.

“Because you thought he hadn't enough for two?”

A long pause, then—very faintly: “No—not that.”

“Then it must be because he hasn't as much money as he'd like, and must find a girl who'll bring him—what he most wants.”