“Wasn’t it?” Juliet’s lips were quivering.  “Well, it’s been a positive nightmare to me.  I haven’t got over it yet.”

“That’s curious,” he said.  “I shouldn’t have thought it could have touched you anywhere.”

“That is because you have a totally wrong impression of me,” she said.  “That is what I am trying to put right.  I am the sort of person that horrible book applies to, and I’ve fallen out with myself very badly in consequence, Mr. Green.  I haven’t told anyone but you, but—­somehow—­I feel as if you ought to know.”

“Thank you,” said Green.  “But why?”

She met his eyes very steadily.  “Because I’m trying to play the game now, and—­I don’t want you to have any illusions.”

“You don’t want me to make a fool of myself,” he said.  “Is that it?”

She coloured very vividly, but she did not avoid his look.  “I don’t think there is much danger of that, is there?” she said.

He stood still suddenly and faced her.  His eyes burned with an amazing brightness.  “I don’t know,” he said, speaking emphatically and very rapidly.  “It depends of course upon the point of view.  But I’ll tell you this.  I’d give all I’ve got—­and all I’m ever likely to get—­to prevent you going to Shale Court as a companion.”

“Oh, but aren’t you unreasonable?” Juliet said.

“No, I’m not.”  He made a vigorous gesture of repudiation.  “Presumptuous perhaps—­but not unreasonable.  I know too much of what goes on there.  Miss Moore, I beseech you—­think again!  Don’t go!”

She looked at him in perplexity.  “But it wouldn’t be fair to draw back now,” she objected.  “Besides—­”

“Besides,” he broke in almost fiercely, “you’ve got your living to make like the rest of us.  Yes, I know—­I know!  You regard this as a Heaven-sent opportunity.  It isn’t.  It’s quite the reverse.  If you were unhappy in London, you’ll be a thousand times more so there.  And—­and I shan’t be able to help you—­shan’t get anywhere near you there.”

“It’s very kind of you,” began Juliet.

He cut her short again.  “No, it isn’t kind.  You’re the only woman of your station I have ever met who has deigned to treat me as an equal.  It—­it’s a bit rash on your part, you know.”  He smiled at her abruptly, and something sent a queer sensation through her—­a curious feeling of familiarity that held and yet eluded her.  “And—­as you see—­I’m taking full advantage of it.  I hope you won’t think me an awful cad after this.  I can’t help it if you do.  Miss Moore, forgive my asking,—­are you really obliged to work for your living?  Can’t you—­can’t you wait a little?”

Juliet was looking at him with wonder in her soft eyes.  His sudden vehemence was rather bewildering.

“I don’t quite know,” she said vaguely.  “But I rather want to do something, you know.”

“Oh, I know—­I know,” he said.  “But you’re not obliged to do this.  Something else is bound to turn up.  Or if it doesn’t—­if it doesn’t—­” He ground his heel deep into the yielding sand, and ended in a husky undertone.  “My God!  What wouldn’t I give for the privilege of working for you?”