Part 45 (1/2)

If Jack, as certainly not going to be a pauper, probably not even an invalid, had passed through London without co to see Barbara, that meant that he did not want to see Barbara Perhaps he _had_ seen her

Eric telephoned to Berkeley Square and found his voice greeted with surprise and apprehensive pleasure

”I thought you were in the country! You _are_ getting restless, Eric!

When did you coland; he called here during the week-end, but of course I ay II thought you'd like to know”

”Thank you, Eric,” she answered quietly

There was a pause which neither liked to break At last Eric said:

”He didn't conize that it's all over, Babs? You say that your soul isn't yours and that you owe it to Jack; well, he's had the chance to come and claih

”It's hard to explain, Eric You see, only he and I kno much he was in love with me before I was the only person he'd ever cared for

Even I didn't understand how ain ”I don't believe that, after loving ave hiested

”But you don't cease loving people because they behave badly to you

I've behaved abo, and all I've done in return is to make you ill and miserable I've ruined your work, your life--you've told me so, Eric I've been utterly selfish and heartless You know I'm vain, you know I'm spoiled, you admit I've behaved atrociously But you want to marry me in spite of it all”

”I love you in spite of it all”

Barbara said nothing, and her silence was a confession and answer There were a hundred reasons why Jack had not come to see her yet; his future was uncertain, he must wait for a final verdict fro the cud of his resentment And, when the first reasons were exhausted, her vanity wove a hundred ainst the fantastic thought that any man could tire of her

”Oh, I wish you _didn't_!” Barbara cried at last ”Why don't you go away and forget all about me?”

She had trapped him neatly, as he had no doubt she well knew

”I can't forget you,” he answered, savagely conscious that he was presenting her with neeapons ”Whatever you did, you'd be the biggest thing in my life; I should always need you”

This time she put her triumph into words

”Don't you think that Jack may need me as badly?”

”He's had his chance”

Eric discovered suddenly that the wire had ceased to throb Evidently she had quietly hung up the receiver In another ood-bye; and that she would not do He was beginning to know her arette, he was trying to think what he had been doing before their conversation started, when the telephone-bell rang

”Eric? It'sWe were cut off Eric, don't be bitter withto deserve your love, but it's been so wonderful that I won't allow you to say anything which will spoil it

So in your life”

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