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got to listen to me. I can’t s-stand back and l-let things happen—I can’t really. No one could expect me t-to. I don’t so often get an opportunity that I can afford to l-lose one when it comes. You c-can’t expect me to.”
    Jenny put the plate down. She hoped that Alan would take the hint and let go of her hand, but he only held on to it harder than ever.
    “Alan, don’t be ridiculous! You’re hurting me!”
    “I don’t want to hurt you. Oh, my God, Jen—I’d do anything to stop you being hurt. It’s because of that—oh, you m-must know—you m-must see!”
    Jenny was shaking. She took hold of herself as firmly as she could. He was just a boy—a silly boy. She said as calmly as she could,
    “Alan, what is it?”
    He released her hand as suddenly as he had taken it. He got up, spilling his cup of tea, and went over to the mantelpiece, where he stood looking down into the little black fire.
    “D-don’t you know that I l-love you?” he said in a muffled voice.
    “Oh, Alan, you can’t—you don’t really!”
    “Because I’m not M-Mac,” he said.
    “Oh, Alan—”
    “Why shouldn’t I l-love you? Will you t-tell me that? I’m no one of c-course—no one to anyone.”
    “Alan—”
    He swung suddenly round and faced her.
    “N-no, you listen to me! I’ve got things to say to you, and this is a good time to say them.”
    He had stopped stammering, and he was very like his father. She had only seen Colonel Forbes angry once. It was a long time ago when she was quite a little girl. There was a man who had frightened a woman. The whole scene flashed back into Jenny’s mind. It had frightened her very much then, but she wasn’t frightened now. All her colour had gone. She lifted her eyes and looked at Alan.
    “What do you want to say?” she said.
    “This. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. I can’t afford to marry yet—I know that. But if you’ll be engaged, it—it would be a protection for you. We’ll get married in about three years’ time if—if you didn’t mind starting in a small way. I didn’t mean to say anything, but Mac’s no use to you—he isn’t really. And if you were engaged to me, he’d leave you alone—he—he’d have to.”
    Jenny had got paler and paler. This was one thing she had never thought of. Alan was just Alan, like a brother. She had never thought of him like this. If she had been older she would have reflected that a boy of his age must be in love with someone, but she hadn’t enough experience to know that, and what she didn’t know she couldn’t say. She just sat there at the table and thought, “Oh, poor Alan! What shall I say—what shall I do?” She hardly knew what he was saying. She looked at him as if she didn’t understand.
    “Oh, Alan, please—”
    He came across to her.
    “It’s no good saying ‘Oh, Alan—’ It’s not a bit of use. You’re mine —you’re not Mac’s—I won’t let him. Oh, J-Jenny!” He went down on his knees beside her and caught her about the waist.
    She felt suddenly sure of herself. She wasn’t frightened of him, because he was just Alan whom she had known always, who had been like a brother. That was it. That was why she felt it was all wrong. When she spoke, her voice shook a little, but she felt an inner calmness.
    “Alan, you mustn’t—you mustn’t really. And it’s no use—it’s no use at all.”
    He looked up at her wildly.
    “Why is it no use? Why should you say that? I’d work for you—I’d do anything. Listen—I’ve got an idea. There’s a friend of mine—his name’s Manning. He’s an awfully good chap. Strong as a bull, and he wants to go in for farming. His father’s got a lot of money, and he was very disappointed because Bertie didn’t want to go into the business. It’s steel or something, and Bertie said he simply couldn’t bear the thought of it. He says he doesn’t want to be rich, he just wants to have enough, and he wants his father to put his younger