"I won't go into what's happened.

I don't believe the stories about you--I don't WANT to believe them.

But they're there, and my not believing them ain't going to alter the situation." She flushed to her temples, but the extremity of her need checked the retort on her lip and she continued to face him composedly.

"If they are not true," she said, "doesn't THAT alter the situation ?" He met this with a steady gaze of his small stock-taking eyes, which made her feel herself no more than some superfine human merchandise.

"I believe it does in novels; but I'm certain it don't in real life.