"Most likely he knows like the rest." It came upon him as something shocking and strangely new that his friend Durrance, who, as he knew very well, had been wont rather to look up to him, in all likelihood counted him a thing of scorn.

But he heard Ethne speaking.

After all, what did it matter whether Durrance knew, whether every man knew, from the South Pole to the North, since she, Ethne, knew?
"And is this all ?" she asked.
"Surely it is enough," said he.
"I think not," she answered, and she lowered her voice a little as she went on.

"We agreed, didn't we, that no foolish misunderstandings should ever come between us?
We were to be frank, and to take frankness each from the other without offence.

So be frank with me! Please!" and she pleaded.