It never, so to speak, held up its head again; but I believe she has it still somewhere, put away in a locked drawer in tissue-paper, as if it were very valuable.
"I did not come without a reason," said Charles, after a long pause, speaking with difficulty.

"It is no good beating about the bush.

I want to speak to you again about what I told you three weeks ago.

Have you forgotten what that was ?" Ruth shook her head.

_She had not forgotten._ Her hand began to tremble, and he sat down beside her on the bench, and, taking the brush out of her hand, laid it in its box.
"Ruth," he said, gently, "I have not been very happy during the last three weeks; but two days ago, when I saw you again, I thought you did not look as if you had been very happy either.