With staring eyes they were taking in the unusual splendour of her escort .sx She saw how Helen's face flushed with envy , and the way in which Cecil's jaw dropped as he looked from Carol to Gerald in unmitigated amazement .sx Carol permitted herself a thrill of amused malice , then she turned back to Gerald and began to talk with quiet animation , aware she had created quite as much sensation as she could have wished .sx " I say , " murmured Gerald a few minutes later , " now that the picture is over they are giving us a lot of tripe .sx What about supper ?sx Are you still set on this show ?sx " " I've seen all I wanted , " Carol told him gaily .sx " I know you've missed your dinner , and in spite of these nice chocolates I feel hungry , so let's slip off .sx " Quietly they made their way out , and began to walk along the brightly-lighted pavement where the night life of London seethed as a mighty maelstrom .sx It was frosty ; innumerable stars twinkled in the dark sky , while the flashing electric signs and the gay shop windows made the thoroughfares as light as day .sx The atmosphere was full of that indescribable excitement peculiar to the streets of London's heart at night , and Carol felt exhilarated as she walked by her tall companion , her fur collar up to her ears , her face so vivid that several men glanced back after her in a way Gerald , manlike , did not altogether appreciate , though , looking at her , he could forgive their too open admiration .sx She was awfully attractive , he thought , a delightful companion , for she did not expect to be made love to , and was always interested in his conversation .sx He was sincerely glad of her company .sx It did not dawn upon him , though he was by no means inexperienced , that the time might come when such companionship might begin to be perilous .sx He knew himself obsessed by Elaine Broadbent , and , being singularly free from conceit , did not consider that even if he kept to the confines of friendship Carol might find herself straying beyond that limit .sx They found a quiet restaurant where they had supper .sx A girl played the violin uncommonly well , and the haunting melodies she chose lingered long years afterwards in Carol's memory , as did the softly-lighted supper room , with the roaring wood fire in an open hearth at one end , and the big bowls of daffodils and narcissi on the tables .sx A sleek tabby cat sat up like a dog , begging for food , and Carol fed it laughingly , listening to Gerald's stories of his experiences on the golf-links with the bachelor friend , who was so afraid of girls he always " foozled a stroke " if one appeared within sight .sx It was all very pleasant , the more so because she had the sensation of one who has escaped from captivity .sx It was so wonderful to know Cecil had not the power to hurt her .sx The little ache at her heart which had interfered even with her happiest hours with Gerald had disappeared .sx She could bear to think of her late lover and Helen without a pang , and the sensation of freedom was gratifying .sx She hoped the sense of loss and pain were diminishing for Gerald too but she did not care to question him .sx She remembered that look in his eyes when he had spoken of Elaine Broadbent , and did not want to witness it again .sx He seemed content enough , as they sat sipping some very delicious coffee , which a negro boy handed them with a flashing smile .sx Once more she thought with a secret thrill how good Gerald was to look upon , and how lucky she was in her friend .sx " I saw Cecil Forrest to-night , " she told him at last , as they lingered over a last cigarette , and as he turned an inquiring look upon her , added , " You know - my faithless lover " - and she laughed lightly .sx " He was with another girl - a girl I used to know quite well .sx Evidently he has consoled himself .sx " Gerald looked at her with quick concern .sx " Poor little Carol , " he exclaimed , and she noticed his use of her first name , .sx " No need for pity , thanks , " she returned .sx " That sight of him to-night quite cured me .sx He was so obviously holding me up to ridicule with her that in a minute , as it were , I found myself cured .sx It's a very pleasant sensation .sx " His expression was doubtful .sx " But - pardon me - could you ever have really cared for him ?sx " he asked slowly .sx " Love - the real thing , you know - the thing we are supposed to have put out of fashion , but which refuses to be thrust aside - isn't killed so easily , worse luck .sx " " I thought I loved him , " she returned thoughtfully .sx " Perhaps I was flattered by his preference , for many girls tried to get him .sx Perhaps I was only fond of him .sx We were always quarrelling because he was so terribly jealous .sx Oh , I believe it was for the best .sx We might never have been happy .sx " " I hope you're right , " the man said sincerely .sx " I hate to think of you suffering , Carol .sx I like you , and it worries me to fancy you fretting .sx " " How sweet of you !sx " she said , her dark eyes glowing .sx " I believe you helped the cure .sx Without your friendship I should have been so lonely I might have gone on believing myself broken-hearted .sx " " Carol , dear , that makes me glad , and in a selfish way I'm glad I'm not going to lose you .sx You wouldn't believe how much I thought about you when I was away .sx It was a comfort to think someone might be glad to see me back .sx " " But you must have lots of friends .sx " " Acquaintances , perhaps ; and they are all connected with the part of my life I've to forget , " he said restlessly .sx " You find people pleasant or amusing for an hour or two , but can't make friends of them .sx If I were to go back amongst the old crowd I should be reminded on every hand of - her , you know .sx " " And - that would hurt ?sx " Carol asked softly .sx He looked away , and for the first time antagonism for the absent girl who occupied so much of his heart filled Carol .sx Depression held her as he said slowly - .sx " It hurts so much that I don't want to speak of her again , even to you .sx Let's talk of something else .sx I expect I seem a feeble young fool , but I'm the sort who cares deeply or not at all .sx " " That is the only affection worth having , " she answered , but all at once her joy seemed marred .sx she told herself it was pity for Gerald .sx CHAPTER IV .sx KNOWING THE TRUTH .sx Spring came early that year , flooding the streets with baskets of fragrant flowers , covering the branches of the trees with brown buds , starting the birds thinking of nesting-time .sx Carol bought herself a betwitching green sports dress and a jaunty pull-on cap affair , beneath which her curls and cheeks looked brighter than ever .sx It was a very happy face which looked out upon the world under that green hat , for she was feeling happier than ever in her life before .sx She and Gerald were close companions .sx The coming the of the longer days and the warmer atmosphere had tempted them to country jaunts and wanderings in distant woods , misty with the young green and ringing with the song of birds .sx They lunched and tea'd at roadside hostelries , coming back to London in time for an evening of dancing or some other equally sophisticated amusement as a variation to the joys of Nature .sx Of course these daytime excursions were only for Saturdays and Sundays , but their meetings were by no means confined to the week-ends , for certainly twice a week on an average Carol would don her one evening frock and be borne splendidly away to some gaiety .sx When he was away - and often he went off for a couple of days somewhere - Carol lived only for his return .sx He had come to be the most important influence in her life .sx She knew it , but did not grasp its significance .sx Ever since she had known him she had been aware his heart belonged elsewhere , and that love was absent from their companionship .sx So deeply had this fact impressed itself upon her when first she had met him she was off her guard .sx Love between them was impossible , she argued .sx They were just dear friends .sx Nevertheless , she had reached that stage when to be away from Gerald meant she was only half alive .sx She went through the hours in a state of waiting for his return .sx By this time they were Carol and Gerry to each other , and their attitude appeared that of a brother and sister .sx The man was genuinely attached to her and made no attempt to disguise it .sx Only he knew what her companionship had meant to him in the dark days following Elaine's departure .sx But now , gradually , the poignant bitterness was lulling under the anodyne of time .sx He no longer passed nights of wakeful torture , days of agonised longing , and had succeeded in dulling his grief to quiet resignation .sx Still he found Carol's bright company necessary .sx They understood each other he hold himself .sx Theirs was that rare blossom , the flower of untarnished friendship .sx Between them Elaine's name was never mentioned .sx Passionately as she wished to question him on the matter , Carol respected his wish for silence .sx She thought she detected signs which showed that he was forgetting , or at least that he had ceased to regret .sx When Carol was not with him , she occupied herself in reading the books with which he kept her supplied .sx She was sensitive enough to be aware that her knowledge of many things were small by comparison with his , for there were many subjects in which he was interested upon which she could not speak at all , and others of which she had but a superficial knowledge .sx Her one desire was to be the perfect companion , and to attain this goal she thought it no hardship to spend the evening poring over books .sx Her mind was broadening , her outlook widening under the access of knowledge .sx She grew to appreciate the books of really good writers - the poets , whose works she had scarcely known by name - the life stories of great men and noble women .sx She visited picture galleries , and learned how to recognise what was truly good and beautiful over the merely pleasing .sx Here her native good taste helped her , and those wanderings through the Tate Gallery , and the National Gallery , and the Wallace Collection , became unfeigned enjoyment .sx One lovely April day , as she walked swiftly down Oxford Street , she came face to face with Cecil Forrest .sx It was three months since she had seen him , and nearly as long since she had thought of him .sx So entirely free of her old attraction towards him was she that she greeted him with the polite smile of indifference , holding out a gloved hand and saying - .sx " Why , Cecil , how are you ?sx What ages since we met .sx " She thought he looked older and thinner , and not nearly so smart .sx Or was it merely an unconscious contrast with Gerald which gave her that impression ?sx " " I've seen you often , Carol , " he said .sx " But I have never dared to speak to you , though I've wanted to .sx I was - ashamed .sx " " What nonsense , " she said brightly .sx " We can be friends , surely , and forget the past .sx " " That's what I can't do , " he muttered jerkily .sx " Carol , what a darned fool I've been .sx But I've paid for my folly in ways you can never guess .sx " Inwardly she was asking herself with wonder if she had ever thought she loved this man .sx " I'm sorry if you've been unhappy , " she said softly .sx " You aren't looking very fit .sx " He moved restlessly beneath her steady gaze .sx " If you can speak to me so kindly it shows you don't care any more , " he murmured hoarsely .sx " I mean nothing to you .sx " " Isn't that for the best ?sx " she answered quietly .sx " I must talk to you , " he cried miserably .sx " We're blocking the way here .sx