PRAYERS AND PARABLES I had quite forgotten one element which plays its part in most affairs of the affections.

I mean, of course, the element of pique.

Bob Evers, with the field to himself, had been sensible and safe enough; it was my intrusion, and nothing else, which had fanned his boyish flame into this premature conflagration.

Of that I felt convinced.

But Bob would not believe me if I told him so; and what else was there for me to tell him?
To betray Catherine and the secret of my presence, would simply hasten an irrevocable step.