’Because she is an old woman and I am a young one, and because in intercourse between young men and young women there is something dangerous to the woman and therefore pleasant to the man.’

’I never heard anything more unjust.  You cannot think I desire anything injurious to you.’

‘I do think so.’  She was still standing and spoke now with great vehemence.  ’I do think so.  You force me to throw aside the reticence I ought to keep.  Would it help me in my purpose if your friend Lord Silverbridge knew that I was here?’

‘How should he know?’

’But if he did?  Do you suppose that I want to have visits paid to me of which I am afraid to speak?  Would you dare tell Lady Mary that you had been sitting alone with me on the rocks at Grex?’

‘Certainly I would.’

’Then it would be because you have not dared to tell her certain other things which have gone before.  You have sworn to her no doubt that you love her better than all the world.’

‘I have.’

’And you have taken the trouble to come her to tell me that,—­to wound me to the core by saying so; to show me that though I may still be sick, you have recovered,—­that is if you ever suffered!  Go your way and let me go mine.  I do not want you.’

‘Mabel!’

’I do not want you.  I know you will not help me, but you need not destroy me.’

‘You know that you are wronging me.’

’No!  You understand it all though you look so calm.  I hate your Lady Mary Palliser.  There!  But if by anything I could do I could secure her to you I would do it,—­because you want it.’

‘She will be your sister-in-law,—­probably.’

‘Never.  It will never be so.’

‘Why do you hate me?’

’There again!  You are so little of a man that you can ask me why!’ Then she turned away as though she intended to go down to the marge of the lake.

But he rose up and stopped her.  ’Let us have this out, Mabel, before we go,’ he said.  ’Unmanly is a heavy word to hear from you, and you have used it a dozen times.’

’It is because I have thought it a thousand times.  Go and get her if you can,—­but why tell me about it?’

‘You said you would help me.’

’So I would, as I would help you do anything you might want; but you can hardly think that after what has passed I can wish to hear about her.’

‘It was you spoke of her.’

’I told you you should not be here,—­because of her and because of me.  And I tell you again.  I hate her.  Do you think I can hear you speak of her as though she were the only woman you had ever seen without feeling it?  Did you ever swear that you loved anyone else?’

‘Certainly, I have so sworn.’

‘Have you ever said that nothing could alter that love?’

‘Indeed I have.’

’But it is altered.  It has all gone.  It has been transferred to one who has more advantages of beauty, youth, wealth, and position.’