." His voice vibrated with some strong emotion, and Diana regarded him curiously.
"Then you meant it ?" she said slowly.

"It was deliberate ?" He bent his head affirmatively.
"Yes," he replied.

"I suppose you think it unforgivable.

And yet--and yet it would have been better so." "Better?
But why?
I'm generally"-- dimpling a little--"considered rather nice." "'Rather nice' ?" he repeated, in a peculiar tone.

"Oh, yes--that does not surprise me." "And some day," she continued gaily, "although I'm nobody just now, I may become a really famous person--and then you might be quite happy to know me!" Her eyes danced with mirth as she rallied him.
He looked at her strangely.
"No--it can never bring me happiness.