"You are to begin wherever you find it easiest to begin, and you are to tell me nothing that it distresses you to tell."
"Oh, but all of it distresses me, and I must tell it—all of it."
Again Duncan spoke soothingly, and presently the girl began again.
"Well, first, I can never—I mean I mustn't—I mustn't say 'yes' to the questions you asked me that other time."
"You mean when I asked if you would be my wife?"
"Yes. That's it. Thank you very much. That's the first thing I am to tell you."
"Who bade you tell me that?"
"Oh, nobody—or rather—I mean nobody told me I mustn't say 'yes,' but after I had made up my mind that I mustn't, then auntie said I was bound to tell you about it all. I wanted to write it, but she said that wouldn't be fair, and that I must tell you myself."
"But why did you make up your mind that you mustn't say 'yes'? Can you not love me, Barbara?"
"Oh, yes—I mean no—or rather—I mustn't."