She put her question now, with the door still closed and her back to it.
"You said that Harry _had_ to join the army.

What did you mean by that ?" Hillyard hesitated.
"Did he not tell you himself ?" "No." Hillyard stood between loyalty to his friend and the recollection of Stella Croyle's tears.

If Luttrell had not told her--why then---- "Then I don't well see how I can," he said uncomfortably.
"But I want to know," said Stella, bending her brows at him in astonishment that he should refuse her so small a thing.

Then her manner changed.

"Oh, I do want to know," she cried, and Hillyard's obstinacy broke down.
Men have the strangest fancies which compel them to do out of all reason, even the things which they hate to do, and to put aside what they hold most dear.