"
Even as he spoke, that sweet childlike smile crept back into
her face, pathetic in the extreme, for it seemed drowned in tears.
"Oh! Armand!" she said quaintly, "I sometimes wish you had
not so many lofty virtues. . . . I assure you little sins are far
less dangerous and uncomfortable. But you WILL be prudent?" she
added earnestly.
"As far as possible. . .I promise you."
"Remember, dear, I have only you. . .to. . .to care for me. . . ."
"Nay, sweet one, you have other interests now. Percy cares
for you. . . ."
A look of strange wistfulness crept into her eyes as she murmured,--
"He did. . .once. . ."
"But surely. . ."
"There, there, dear, don't distress yourself on my account.
Percy is very good. . ."
"Nay!" he interrupted energetically, "I will distress myself
on your account, my Margot. Listen, dear, I have not spoken of these
things to you before; something always seemed to stop me when I wished
to question you. But, somehow, I feel as if I could not go away and
leave you now without asking you one question. . . . You need not
answer it if you do not wish," he added, as he noted a sudden hard
look, almost of apprehension, darting through her eyes.
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