"I will lift you over here," he said shortly. "Oh, I can wade quite well," said she. "My shoes are wet already."
But without more words he put his arms round her, and lifted her over. When he put her down he found his tongue.
"If Maisie stands with my uncle at the next drive," he said, "will you come to my butt?"
"I should like to," she said. For some reason his tone made her breath come quickly.
David stood looking down at her as though considering.
"I can't go back on my word," he said at last inconsequently. "I shall have to marry her, if she wants it, I suppose. But I can't bear you to think that I care for her. I've got to think of other people."
"You mustn't say that!" she cried. "Oh, you mustn't say that to me!"
"Why not?" he said, looking at her strangely. "What have I said that isn't right?"
"Nothing, I suppose," Juliet faltered. "But--but--Oh," she cried, "if you don't care for her, you must tell her so, and she will break it off. Anything would be better than to go on with it!"
"I think she knows," he answered gloomily. "She won't break it off, because she wants to be 'my Lady,' It's a business matter, really. And I'd have to stick to it for my mother's sake, anyhow."
Juliet could think of nothing to say. "You ought not to marry her," she stammered again.
"If I didn't," he began hoarsely--"if she did let me go, I don't suppose you'd ever care for me enough to marry me? Oh, I know I ought not to say it," he broke off; "I'm a cad to speak like this. Forgive me, Juliet."
Juliet's world revolved around her at an unusual pace for the space of a second. She shut her eyes to steady herself; a mixture of misery and happiness deprived her of speech or movement. Gradually the misery predominated and she burst into tears.
"Forgive me, forgive me," he was saying. He stood before her, looking as wretched as a man can look.
"Yes, yes," she sobbed. "Let us forget all about it. You must forget me."
"You know I can't," he said. "Juliet, Juliet, don't cry. If you cry I shall be simply obliged to kiss you." And he took a step towards her.