"I must go back; Phil won't know what's become of me."
"Perhaps it would be as well to tell her that we've met," he said. "In fact, I think she should know."
"I prefer not," she answered with decision. "It might trouble her; she might think—she thinks of everything!"
"Lois, there are ways—important ones—in which it would be best for her, make her happier, if we could—try again!"
She raised her hand with one of her quick gestures, and it rested for an instant on his arm. As she lifted her face he saw the tears bright in her eyes.
"Don't say it; don't think of it!" she whispered brokenly.
"For Phil's sake we ought to do it if we can," he persisted, surprised to find how unmoved he was.
"For Phil's sake we wouldn't if we could!" Their gaze met searchingly. "It would be doing Phil a terrible wrong!"
"I don't understand; I can't follow that," he answered.
And still unmoved, untouched, he saw grief and fear in her eyes, her face twitching with the pain of inner conflict.