For a space Monck did not speak, and gradually the tension went out of Stella.  She relaxed at length and laid her cheek against his shoulder.

His arm went round her in a moment; he held her against his heart.  “Stella,” he said, “do you ever think to yourself nowadays that I am a very formidable person to live with?”

“Never,” she said.

His arm tightened about her.  “You are not afraid of me any longer?”

She smiled a little.  “What is this leading up to?”

He bent suddenly, his lips against her forehead.  “Dear heart, if I am wrong—­forgive me!  But—­why are you trying to deceive me?”

She had never heard such tenderness in his voice before; it thrilled her through and through, checking her first involuntary dismay.  She hid her face upon his breast, clasping him close, trembling from head to foot.

He turned, still holding her, and led her to the sofa.  They sat down together.

“Poor girl!” he said softly.  “It hasn’t been easy, has it?”

Then she realized that he knew all that she had so strenuously sought to hide.  The struggle was over and she was beaten.  A great wave of emotion went through her.  Before she could check herself, she was shaken with sobs.

“No, no!” he said, and laid his hand upon her head.  “You mustn’t cry.  It’s all right, my darling.  It’s all right.  What is there to cry about?”

She clung faster to him, and her hold was passionate.  “Everard,” she whispered, “Everard,—­I—­can’t leave you!”

“Ah!” he said “We are up against it now.”

“I can’t!” she said again.  “I can’t.”

His hand was softly stroking her hair.  Such tenderness as she had never dreamed of was in his touch.  “Leave off crying!” he said.  “God knows I want to make things easier for you—­not harder.”

“I can bear anything,” she told him brokenly, “anything in the world—­if only I am with you.  I can’t leave you.  You won’t—­you can’t—­force me to that.”

“Stella!  Stella!” he said.

His voice checked her.  She knew that she had hurt him.  She lifted her face quickly to his.

“Oh, darling, forgive me!” she said.  “I know you would not.”

He kissed the quivering lips she raised without words, and thereafter there fell a silence between them while the mystery of the night seemed to press closer upon them, and the veiled goddess turned in her sleep and subtly smiled.

Stella uttered a long, long sigh at last.  “You are good to bear with me like this,” she said rather piteously.

“Better now?” he questioned gently.

She closed her eyes from the grave scrutiny of his.  “I am—­quite all right, dear,” she said.  “And I am taking great care of myself.  Please—­please don’t worry about me!”

His hand sought and found hers.  “I have been worrying about you for a long time,” he said.

She gave a start of surprise.  “I never thought you noticed anything.”