"Is there anything—"

"Don't! Don't!" she begged; but he went on, still staring at her:

"Is there any reason for you to—not to be frank with me? Is there, Athalie?"

"No; no reason.... I'll tell you ... if you will understand. Must I tell you?"

"Yes."

Her head fell; she stood plucking nervously at his fur coat for a while in silence. Then:

"Clive, I—I see clearly."

"What?"

"I mean that I see a—a little more clearly than—some do. Do you understand?"

"No."