"I never touched you nor kissed you, except in games like that Copenhagen to-day," said he; "but I've thought of it a good many times." Charlotte drew back.

"I can't, Thomas," she faltered.

She could not herself have defined her reason for refusing her cast-off lover this one comfort, but it was not so much loyalty as the fear of disloyalty which led her to do so.

In spite of herself, she saw Barney for an instant beside Thomas to his disadvantage, and her love could not cover him, extend it as she would.

The conviction was strong upon her that Thomas was the better man of the two, although she did not love him.
"All right," said Thomas, "I ought not to have asked it of you, Charlotte.