"I think it was a cursed day that saw me come into her life," he groaned.
"Perhaps it was," her hurt heart made answer He bowed his head.
"I can only hope that she will not think too hardly of me," he said, very low. "And that she will find it in her heart to be sorry-for me-also."
She rose and came up to him, her skirts brushing gently over the grass, holding out her hands imploringly.
"Mr. Carr . . ."
He would not allow himself to look into the gold-flecked eyes. . . . He must remember Dick-his brother Dick!
In his hand he took the tips of her fingers, and bowing, kissed them. Then he turned on his heel and strode swiftly away between the hedges towards the quiet woods, with a heart aflame with passion, and with rebellion and impotent fury. He would go somewhere quite alone and fight the devil that was prompting him to cry the truth aloud and to throw aside his burden for love, forgetting duty.
But Diana remained standing among the scattered flowers, very still, very cold, with a look of hopeless longing in her eyes and a great hurt.