'Was—is it ended?'

'Yes—for ever.'

'Thank God for that! Did you think you loved him?' asked Hawkey with a grin.

'I believe that I did—or ought—I was so silly—so simple—so——'

'There—there—I don't want to worry you.'

'But he loves me, I know that,' said Annot in a low voice—true to her vanity still.

'That I can well believe—who could see you and not love you?' said Hawkey gallantly.

'I could never marry a poor man,' said Annot candidly.

'Well—he is poor enough.'

'And live on, eating my heart out in struggles such as some I have seen,' continued Annot as if to herself.