"No one of right mind _should_ doubt," she admitted--"but only the future will reveal whether my past hasn't overcome their right minds."
"Why don't you forget your past--it's past!" he exclaimed.
"As I think you have said to me many times, Montague!" she smiled, "and as you know is impossible."
"It is not just to yourself to remember what your friends have forgot."
"What my friends have _overlooked_, you mean--they can never forget."
"Don't you think I try to act the part?" she said sadly. "It's try, try, try all the time. I'm about worn out with trying."
"It succeeds, dear," he encouraged. "No one would ever know that you are not as calm and unconcerned as you appear to be. Even I would be deceived, if you yourself had not told me otherwise."
"I'm glad I've acted the part so well," she smiled. "I only hope I can keep it up to the end--if there is ever to be an end."
"It can always have a certain end, Stephanie," he whispered.
"Thank you, Montague; I'll not pretend that I don't understand--nor that I----" she broke off, and looked by him and out to the distant horizon. "It is no use for us to discuss the impossible," she said softly.
"It is going to be the probable," he declared.
She shook her head--but an adorable smile came into her soft blue eyes.
"You seem very sure, my friend," she whispered.
"I am very sure, dear," he replied. "Very sure, indeed."
"You must not call me dear," she reminded him.
He sighed.--"You're very hard to please!"
"Appellations of friendship were better."
"Well, call it friendship, if _you_ please. I'll call it something else."
"To which the answer is found on the next page--shall we turn it?"
"Do you think it wise?" she asked--"wise to turn the new page before we have finished the old?"
"No, it is _not_ wise," he answered slowly. "You are right, _Stephanie_. You see I call you simply Stephanie, but it is hard to have to read what doesn't interest me."
"If it is hard to have to _read_, what do you think it is to have to live it?" she asked.
"It _is_ hell," she admitted--"hell of my own making--that is what hurts."
"Don't let it hurt, Stephanie," he pleaded, taking her hand. "It will all come right very soon--very soon, I'm persuaded."
"By the natural turn of events--they can't go against you much longer."