"Care of myself," he laughed. "Why, for whom? Life is not exactly a playground, is it?"
"You are not making the best of it!"
"The best! Do you want to mock me?"
"It is you," she whispered, "who stand before a looking-glass, and mock yourself. Philip, be a man. Your life is one long repression. Break through just once! Won't you?"
He sighed. "Would you have me a hypocrite, Catherine?"
She shook her head. Suddenly she looked up at him.
"Philip, will you promise me this? If ever your impulse should come—if you should feel the desire to speak, to act once more as a man from your heart—you will not stifle it. Promise me that." He looked at her with a faint, tired smile. "Yes, I promise," he answered.
CHAPTER V
LADY SYBIL LENDS A HAND
Brooks glanced at the card which was brought in to him, at first carelessly enough, afterwards with mingled surprise and pleasure.