She avoided Otto, taking care not to be left alone with him when
he called on Sundays, and putting Sophie between him and her when
he came up to them in the Square. But Otto was awaiting his
chance, and when it came, plunged boldly into his heart-subject
and floundered bravely about. ``I don't like to see you so sad,
Hilda. Isn't there any chance for me? Can't things be as they
used to be?''

Hilda shook her head sadly. ``I'm never going to marry,'' she
said. ``You must find some one else.''

``It's you or nobody. I said that when we were in school
together and--I'll stick to it.'' His eyes confirmed his words.

``You mustn't, Otto. You make me feel as if I were spoiling your
life. And if you knew, you wouldn't want to marry me.''

``I don't care. I always have, and I always will.''

``I suppose I ought to tell you,'' she said, half to herself.
She turned to him suddenly, and, with flushed cheeks and eyes
that shifted, burst out: ``Otto, he was a married man!''

``But you didn't know.''

``It doesn't change the way I feel. You might--any man
might--throw it up to me. And sooner or later, everybody'll
know. No man would want a girl that had had a scandal like that
on her.''