She had begun to tremble.
"Then why--why did you let me think so?
Why did you always stand aloof ?" There was a tremor in her voice also, but her eyes were shining with the light half-eager, half-anxious, of one who seeks for buried treasure.
Monck's answer was pitched very low.

It was as if the soul of him gave utterance to the words.

"It is my nature to stand aloof.

I was waiting." "Waiting ?" Her two hands gripped suddenly hard upon her fan, but still her shining eyes did not flinch from his.

Still with a quivering heart she searched.
Almost in a whisper came his reply.