Ah, believe me, Peter!" He looked down at her with the tenderness one accords a child, ignorantly pleading to have its way.

He knew Nan's temperament--knew that, in spite of all her courage, when the moment of exaltation had passed not even love itself could make up for the bitterness of its price, if bought at such a cost.

He pictured her exposed to the slights of those whose position was still unassailable, waiting drearily at Continental watering-places till the decree absolute should be pronounced, and finally, restored to respectability in so far as marriage with him could make it possible, but always liable to be unpleasantly reminded, as she went through life, that there had been a time when she had outraged convention.

It was unthinkable! It would break her utterly.
"Even if that were all, it still wouldn't be possible," he said gently.
"You don't know what you would have to face.

And I couldn't let you face it.