"Ah; that's better," he said. "I hope mummy wouldn't mind, because she said I wasn't to love any one else but her. But, of course, I don't really love you, you know. I like you because you're warm."
"You don't love me, then?"
"No; how could I? I could only love mummy, really. Oh, there it is again! You're still crying, you know."
"Yes; I know I am."
"I suppose you wouldn't come into bed and cry—it's much warmer."
A sob broke in Sally's throat.
Here now it had come—so soon as this—the fulfilment of Janet's prophecy. The curse of Eve was no mystery to her now. She knew. She knew what life lacked.
"No; you must go to sleep now, Maurie," she said thickly. "You must go to sleep now. You mustn't cry any more."
"Very well, then," he said resignedly. "You must promise you won't too."
"I promise I won't. Good night."