(A good term that; worthy of our friend Max!) And, by Heaven, they're right! But how can I help it?
I know in my heart of hearts that it would be sheer brutality to spring this on Muriel now." He ceased to speak, and there fell a silence.

Olga's arms clasped him very tightly.

Her cheek pressed his forehead.

It was not often that Nick opened his heart to her thus.

Only twice before had it ever happened, and on each occasion he had been in trouble--once when the woman he loved had sent back his engagement ring through her, and once again nearly two years later when that same woman--Muriel, his wife--had lain at death's door all through one dreadful night while they two, close pals, had waited huddled together in the passage outside her room.