His voice was still very low, but it had steadied.  He spoke with the strong purpose of a man secure in his own self-mastery.  He loved her, but he made no demand upon her.  He recognized that his love entitled him to no claim.  He even asked her forgiveness for having revealed it to her.

And suddenly the hot tears welled again in Juliet’s eyes.  She could not speak in answer, but in a moment she stretched her hand to his.

He took it and held it close.  “Don’t cry!” he said gently.  “I’m not worth it.  I’ve been a fool—­no, not a fool to love you, but a three times idiot to lose hold of myself like this.  There!  It’s over.  I’m not going to bother you any more.  And you’re not going to let yourself be bothered.  What?  You’re not going to run away because of me, are you?  Promise me you won’t!”

Her fingers closed upon his.  It was almost involuntarily.  “I don’t think I ought to stay,” she whispered.

“I knew that was it!” He bent towards her.  “Juliet!  I say, please, dear, please!  If one of us must go, it must be I. But there is no need.  Believe me, there is no need.  I’ve got myself in hand.  I won’t come near you—­I swear—­if you don’t wish it.”

“But—­suppose—­suppose—­” Her voice broke.  She drew her hand free and covered her face.  “Oh, it’s all so hopeless!” she sobbed.  “I ought to have managed—­better.”

“No, no!” In a flash his arm was round her, strong and ready; he drew her to rest against his shoulder.  “There’s nothing to cry about really—­really!  If you knew how I loathe myself for making you cry!  But listen!  Nobody knows.  Nobody’s going to know.  What happened last night is between you and me alone.  Only you had the key.  It isn’t going to make any difference in your life.  You’ll go on as you were before.  You’ll forget I ever dared to intrude on you.  What, darling?  What?  Yes, you will forget.  Of course you’ll forget.  I’ll see to it that you do.  I’ll—­I’ll—­”

“Oh, stop!” Juliet said, and suddenly her face was turned upwards on his shoulder, her forehead was against his neck.  “You’re making the biggest mistake of your life!”

“What?” he said, and fell abruptly silent and so tensely still that she thought even his heart must have been arrested on the word.

For a long, long second she also was motionless, rigidly pressed to him, then with an odd little fluttering sigh she began to withdraw herself from the encircling arm.  “I’ve dropped my cigarette,” she said.

“Juliet!” He stooped over her; his face was close to hers.  “Am I mad?  Or am I dreaming?  Please make me understand!  What is the mistake I have made?”

She did not look at him, but he saw that her tears were gone and she was faintly, tremulously smiling.  “That cigarette—­” she murmured.  “It really isn’t safe to leave it.  I don’t like—­playing with fire.”

He bent lower.  “We’ve got to risk something,” he said, and with a swiftness of decision that she had not expected he took her chin and turned her face fully upwards to his own.