She clung to the fence, our eyes meeting as I spoke swiftly, making no comment until I concluded.
"Could I have done otherwise ?" "No; you are not to be blamed, but I am so sorry it happened to be Captain Le Gaire." "You mean because--" "He has been much to me," she interrupted, "perhaps still is, although--" she paused suddenly, catching her breath,--"yet this can make no difference." "But it does." She remained silent, and, I thought, drew slightly back.
"You do not wonder ?" I asked, unable to restrain myself, "you do not ask why?
May I not tell you ?" "I prefer you should not," very quietly.

"I am not foolish enough to pretend that I do not understand.

We are going to part now, and you will forget." "Is it then so easy for you ?" "I need not confess, only I see how utterly foolish all this is.

The conditions bringing us together in a few hours of intimacy have been romantic, and, perhaps, it is not strange that you should feel an interest in me.

I--I hope you do, for I shall certainly always feel most kindly toward you, Lieutenant Galesworth.