" I felt sure that you would like her , Bill .sx " " We got on famously , " he replied curtly , finding it next to impossible to discuss Betty like this .sx " But tell me more about your mother , Kay .sx Is all need for anxiety at an end ?sx You must have had a very worrying time of it , poor old girl !sx " " Yes , it's been anything but pleasant , " she replied .sx " Naturally , I was very disappointed about not having this holiday with you , Bill .sx I'd so looked forward to getting away with you alone .sx As it is , we shall only have a few days to ourselves , for I suppose I ought to get back to mother as soon as I possibly can .sx But never mind , it won't be long before we shall be married , and then we shall be together always !sx " It was the first time Kay had ever spoken to him in such a strain about their approaching marriage , and , somehow the remark jarred on herself almost as much as it did on Bill .sx He said hastily- " It's quite a long time to September , Kay .sx " " But the time will go so quickly , what with one thing and another .sx Buying the furniture for one thing- won't it be exciting , Bill , choosing just what we like ?sx You can't imagine how happy and excited I feel about it all .sx " Bill's heart smote him .sx Poor Kay !sx He had sinned against her , unwillingly , it is true , but nevertheless he had sinned , and however he looked at things , he saw pain for her in the future .sx He said gently- " It- it's awfully decent of you to care so much about me , Kay .sx I'm not really worth it , you know .sx You're the sort of girl almost any man would be glad and proud to marry .sx " " But , Bill , you are the only one I want to feel like that , " she said , squeezing his arm , and feeling more reassured .sx " Let's sit here for a few minutes , shall we ?sx This boulder looks very inviting .sx " It had to be the same boulder that he and Betty had sat upon so often .sx Bill gave an inward groan .sx He felt that the situation was getting beyond him .sx Meanwhile , Betty , feeling wretched and unsettled , had collected her belongings and stowed them away in the suitcases she had packed so gaily before setting out for this eventful holiday .sx This done , she contemplated with dismay the solitary hours that lay before her , with only miserable thoughts for company , and yet dreaded still more the return of the other two .sx In the end she went to one of the cinemas and tried to forget her own problems by becoming absorbed in those of the people depicted on the screen .sx It was time for supper when she returned to the boarding-house , and after one anxious glance at the faces of the two lovers , she heaved a sigh of profound relief .sx It was obvious that Bill had been behaving himself correctly and that Kay suspected nothing .sx Betty forced herself to a display of high spirits and gaiety which she was very far from feeling , and in which she was assisted by Bill , who , by now , had reluctantly decided that Kay must be kept in the dark as much as possible concerning the wrong they had done her .sx Kay's unusual display of affection had touched his heart , even while it had increased his sense of despair and hopelessness , for Bill realised that all chances of making her a really good and loving husband were forever dead .sx After supper , they all three went on the pier to listen to the band , and if the sweet , lilting music woke Betty's heart to fresh agony , she gave no sign .sx It was only for a few hours longer that she would have to wear her mask and act her role .sx And afterwards ?sx Shudderingly she acknowledged to herself that she dared not face what lay before her .sx " Sufficient to the day , " she told herself drearily , looking at the sea , upon which the magic moonlight shone with the same radiant beauty it had displayed on the previous night , when it had so thoroughly bewitched herself and Bill .sx Oh , how gloriously happy she had been during those few fleeting moments of time !sx They were engraved upon the tablets of her memory for ever ; they marked for her the pinnacle of life- throbbing , emotion-packed moments , in which , for the first time in her life , she had seemed to really live .sx The contrast between that time and this was too sharp , too poignant .sx She longed to plunge into that silvered sea and swim and swim into forgetfulness !sx " To-morrow I shall be thinking of all this , " she said .sx " Yes , Betty , and you'll be sorry you deserted us , " Kay replied .sx " We shall have to come here for our holiday next year and make it a proper one , " she added , smiling wanly .sx CHAPTER =4 .sx LOVE'S ORDEAL .sx NEXT morning Betty bade them both good-bye and returned to London .sx For one long moment Bill held her hand and looked deep into her glorious brown eyes which held his world , and there passed between them that same irresistible electric thrill which had signalled the avowal of their love .sx Then he had stepped back , without uttering a word , and Kay had raised her face and kissed her friend .sx A moment later , the guard's whistle gave its shrill warning , and the train started on its way .sx Betty felt a strange sensation as she looked out of the window and watched the figures of Kay and Bill diminish , and then disappear from view .sx She told herself that she would do her best never to see either of them again .sx Yes , it was strange [SIC] a sad sensation , and her eyes were misty as she sank back into her seat .sx So it was over at last !sx All that now remained was for her to face reality with as brave a heart as she could muster .sx A little desperately Betty told herself that there must be other things in life besides love .sx She had been happy and content enough before she had fallen a victim to its magic spell- why shouldn't she be able to recapture that old , gay , careless contentment which , up to now , had been all she had asked of life ?sx " I'm glad that Kay will never know , " she murmured to herself , as she watched the beautiful summer landscape fly past the carriage window .sx And again , late that night , as she lay tossing restlessly in bed , she murmured- " Yes , I'm glad that Kay will never know !sx " Even that cause of thankfulness would have been denied her , had she known of what was taking place at almost that selfsame moment between Kay and Bill .sx After supper , they had wandered , a little aimlessly , down to the water's edge , where once again the moon spread that shining track of silver light which seemed to lead to some far-away enchanted country .sx When they reached a deserted stretch of beach , Kay pointed to a nearby groyne .sx " Let's sit down , " she said , and even to Bill , preoccupied as he was with his secret thoughts , her voice sounded strange .sx " I- I want to ask you something , Bill .sx " Somehow , he seemed to know , without being told , what she was going to ask him .sx There had been a brooding look in Kay's eyes , and an absent-mindedness in her manner which , subconsciously , must have warned him , for he sensed at once that she discovered the truth .sx " I think I can guess what you wish to ask me , Kay , " he stammered .sx " Then- then it is true ?sx You are in love with Betty , aren't you , Bill ?sx " It was impossible for him to deny it , for a moment or two , his lips refused to frame the words .sx But at last he spoke .sx " Please let us not speak of it , Kay , " he said .sx " It was Betty's earnest wish that you should know nothing of it .sx " " No wonder- she's too ashamed , of course , " Kay returned hotly .sx " That's not very charitable of you , Kay , in view of the fact that Betty has left here solely for your sake .sx Don't you understand ?sx She voluntarily gave me up because of you .sx " " You were not hers to give up , " Kay retorted .sx " Anyway , she knew that my love was hers , " Bill admitted , in a low voice .sx Kay closed her eyes .sx A sharp pang of pain shot through her at his words .sx " Bill- Bill , my darling , you are not going to give me up , are you ?sx " she cried .sx " Please- please don't , Bill !sx It's only an infatuation .sx It cannot last- it can mean nothing to you in view of the long and deep affection we have felt for each other .sx Bill dear , my life will be completely ruined if you throw me over .sx Oh , I could never face such a thing !sx You are my world , my all !sx " This- this sudden infatuation you feel for Betty will pass .sx It cannot possibly last , Bill .sx You have not known her long enough for it to mean anything to you .sx Oh , Bill dear , " Kay pleaded in a broken voice , " please don't throw me over after all this time , for the sake of a girl you have hardly known for a week !sx " Such impassioned words , coming from the usually calm , reserved Kay , went straight to Bill's heart .sx He could not bear to see her humbled thus before him- this girl who had promised to be his wife and to whom he owed fidelity and respect and love .sx " Of course I'm not going to throw you over , Kay , dear , " he said quickly .sx " Why , Betty wouldn't hear of such a thing .sx That's why she has gone away , as I've already told you .sx She refuses to have anything more to do with me .sx She has behaved very nobly , Kay .sx Listen , my dear , I asked you to marry me , didn't I ?sx And I'm going to do my very best to make you happy .sx " Over her bent head , Bill's eyes were fixed in misery on a fast vanishing hope of ultimate happiness .sx Betty was right .sx Kay must not be forsaken ; for decency's sake he must keep his pledged word to her .sx The sound of Kay's quiet weeping came to him , and resolutely he set himself to ease her injured feelings .sx " Don't cry , darling , " he said .sx " You are right ; all this unhappiness will pass .sx It will seem like some vanished dream from which we have awakened to reality once more .sx You will try to forgive me , won't you , Kay dear ?sx It all happened before I was really aware of it .sx Believe me , Kay , I'm just as fond of you as ever I was- yes , just as fond of you , my darling .sx " Kay longed , but did not dare , to ask him if he cared more for her than he did for Betty , but she knew the desolate answer to that question .sx Instead she said- " Of course I shall forgive you , Bill , fully and freely .sx Betty is a very attractive girl and no doubt she took advantage of the close proximity into which you were thrown .sx Anyway , let us never speak of it again , Bill- let it be buried and forgotten for ever .sx " " It shall be as you wish , Kay , " he answered , but more coldly , for he strongly resented the injustice she was doing to Betty .sx " Let's go somewhere and find a sherry , shall we ?sx " he added .sx " It may cheer us up a bit .sx " " Yes , and we'll drink to our future happiness , Bill !sx " she answered , raising her face to his for a kiss .sx But of all this Betty knew nothing , of course .sx The days went by slowly and wearily .sx She was longing for the time to come for her to return to the office .sx Her parents had gone to Wales to visit an aged aunt , and most of Betty's pals were equally inaccessible , so that for a time solitude was her portion .sx She had plenty of leisure to dwell upon those vanished days spent with the man she loved- days of golden sunshine and music and utter happiness .sx The knowledge that she might never see Bill again was very bitter to her , but it couldn't be helped .sx