"Georgie"
"It is not very—amusing, is it? I am so sorry—so very sorry—if I had only known—"
"Don't lie," said I harshly and rudely, "You did know."
She rose indignantly.
"I did not know. And if I guessed, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't be rude to you, could I, because you—you liked me too much?"
"I wish to heaven you had," cried I. "It would have been kinder than this."
"I think perhaps I had better go in," said she, in a low voice. "You are very cruel. I—I—couldn't—" she caught her breath with a sob.
"You couldn't what?"
"I couldn't help its being—too late."
"Too late?" I turned abruptly. "You are not—"
"Ah," said she sadly, "that's just it. I am. But it is a secret. You must never, never tell anyone. No one knows but Anne."
"What do you mean? For God's sake
4
