She moved aside, battling with herself.
He came close to her.

"Violet!" he said.
"Don't!" she said, in a choked whisper.
He slipped an arm about her, gently overcoming her resistance.

"I say--what's the matter?
What's troubling you ?" He had never held her so before.

Always till that moment she had maintained a delicate reserve in his presence, a barrier which he had never managed to overcome.

He had even wondered sometimes if she were afraid of him.