would refuse to take advantage of his position to
suggest it."

"I think," said Sir Jacques quietly, "that the suggestion
in any case would have to come from Miss
Rose."

And then, for the first time, Rose lost control of
herself. She became agitated, tearful -- in her eagerness
she put her hand on Sir John's breast, and looking
piteously up into his face, "Of course I want to marry
him at once!" she said brokenly. "Every time I have
had to leave him in the last few days I have felt
miserable. You see, I _feel_ married to him already,
and if you feel married, it's so very strange not to be
married."

She began to laugh helplessly, and the more, shocked
at what she was doing, she tried to stop, the more she
laughed.

Sir Jacques came quickly forward. "Come, come!"
he said sharply, and taking her by the arm he shook
her violently. "This won't do at all----" he gave a
warning look at the other man. "Of course Miss Rose
will do exactly what she wishes to do! She's quite
right in saying that she's as good as married to him
already, Sir John. And it's our business -- yours, hers,
and mine -- to think of Jervis, and of Jervis only just
now. But she won't be able to do that if she allows
herself to be upset!"

"I'm so sorry -- please forgive me!" Rose, to her
own measureless relief, had stopped laughing, but she
felt oddly faint and queer. Sir Jacques poured out a
very small wineglassful of brandy, and made her drink
it. How odd to have a bottle of brandy here, in Mr.
Robey's study! Mr. Robey was a teetotaller.

[[252]]

p251 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p252w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p253

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