Can't you see how it is
with me? I am really very ignorant. I want some one who
understands; I want you, Beatrice, very badly."
She patted the back of his hand caressingly.
"You mustn't talk like that, Leonard," she said. "I shouldn't
make you a good wife. I am not going to marry any one."
"And why?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"That is my secret," she told him, looking into the fire.
"You mean to say that, you will never marry?" he persisted.
"Oh, I suppose I shall change, like other women," she answered.
"Just at present, I feel like that."
"Is it because your sister's marriage--"
She caught hold of both his hands; her eyes were suddenly full of
terror.
"You mustn't talk about Elizabeth," she begged, "you please
mustn't talk about her. Promise that you won't."
"But I came here to talk about her," he replied.
Beatrice, for a moment, said nothing. Then she threw down his
hands and laughed once more. As she flung herself back in her
place, it seemed to Tavernake that he saw once more the girl who
had stood upon the roof of the boarding-house.
"You came to talk about Elizabeth!" she exclaimed. "I forgot.
Well, go on, what is it?"
"Your sister is in trouble!"
"Are you her confidant?" Beatrice asked.
"I am not exactly that," he admitted, "but she has asked me to
come and see you."
Beatrice had suddenly grown hard, her lips were set together,
even her attitude was uncompromising.
"Say exactly what you have to say," she told him.
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