"I wonder who Peter really is?" said Judith in a low voice.
Douglas shook his head. "Dad says he's seen better days. He sure has suffered a lot over something or other."
"I wish I knew all about life that he does!" exclaimed Judith.
"I don't wish either of us did," said Douglas. Then he put out his hand to touch Judith's knee with infinite tenderness. "Couldn't you manage to fall in love with me, Jude dear? I'd stay your lover all my life."
Judith put her hand over Douglas' and her fine eyes were all that was womanly and soft as she answered, "O my dear, you don't know what you are talking about. What you promise is impossible."
"But how do you know, Judith? I am an unchanging sort of a chap. You realize that, don't you?"
Judith shook her head. "You don't know what you are promising. You can't force love to stay, once it has begun to fade."
"Try me, Judith! Try me, dear!"
Judith looked at him, lips parted, eyes sad. "Douglas, I'm afraid!" she whispered.
And again the sense of loneliness flooded Doug's heart. There was a look of remoteness in Judith's expression, a look of honest fear that had no response for the fine assured emotion that had held him captive for so many years.