She saw him turn pale.
"Wouldn't it be the best way," she murmured, "since it's got to be anyway ?" He drew a long breath and shook his head.
"I wouldn't take you now," he said doggedly.
"Of course not!" she said quickly.

"I was only joking.

But why ?" she added weakly.

Her hand crept into his.
"It wouldn't be fair," he said, frowning.

"It would be taking too much from you." "Too much!" she murmured, with an obscure smile.
Ambrose struggled with the difficulty of explaining what he meant.