'You look, as if the end of the world has come,' a quiet voice on the left said. Archie turned around – he did not even notice that Annie Brighton sat down on the empty chair to his left.

Her blue eyes were sad.

'Do you love her?' she said even quieter.

The young man looked down and turned the glass in his hands.

'Yes, I do. Undoubtedly, I love her as…Candy, our Candy. I don't know if I love her as a woman…'

Annie was looking at her beloved, at his beautiful face, at his golden-brown hair, which fell softly over his face, into his brown eyes, so different when he was happy, sad or indignant…

'You know, it's all over between us,' she whispered, 'Even if there was something. Now, when I have seen how you look at her, I realized that I could ever fall out of love with you.'

'Annie…'

'No, let me speak. I don'r care if someone hears. This is our last conversation.'

The girl cover his hand with hers, and young Cornwell shuddered.

'You know, I just played real life. Concerts, receptions ... my love to you. And Candy lived at this time. She left the St. Paul college, she chose her own way of life, she became a nurse, she even worked in the mountains. She even managed to break up with Terry, although they both were in loved with each other. I would not be able to do this. Candy goes through the life boldly, choosing her own way that she thinks is right. And I'm afraid of everything. I'm afraid of one thing, I'm afraid of another, but in the end ... I'm alone. '

'Alone? Do not make me laugh, you always have dates…'

'Enough!' the brunette waved her hand in exasperation. 'I have no one and you probably know this. I tried to make you jealous, and, in the end, it was unsuccessfully. I can not live, because I'm always afraid of everything. Only illusion! The illusion of love, the illusion of a busy life. I was fourteen when I realized that I was in love with you. I was afraid that it was not mutual affection. And what? I'm twenty-one, and we're not together. So much time is lost, so much time….' she covered her face with her hand, 'After all, if you then, at the college, told me that you like Candy more, yes, I would cry. For a day, two, maybe, for a year. But then I would have gone through it. I would meet a person with whom I would have a mutual feeling. I would at least find out what it is when you are beloved! But now… Six years of illusion without effect… Tell me, you found me in that cave by yourself?' she suddenly asked, after a little pause.

'In the cave? What a cave?'

'When you found me, at the college. When I cried, and you found me. Did you do it yourself?'

Blue eyes looked closely in the brown ones.

'By myself, Annie, I…'

'False. It's not true again' the girl said these words not in blaming, but in a sad tone. 'Archie, I do not need a lie. Anyway, nothing good will come of it.'

They were silent for a while.

'Have you noticed that when people love each other, they become so beautiful?' Miss Brighton looked at the betrothed couple, 'Even Neil, when he does not grin so disgustingly, he looks so sweet. And his eyes are not evil now… And Candy is just gorgeous.'

'I will never accept the fact that she chose this slug. Mr. Albert will be coming soon, and then…'

'You should not worry about Candy. As I said - she's not afraid to live. She is not afraid to love, not afraid to break up, not afraid to change. Are you so sure that he makes her to do this?' she grinned, 'Candy can not be made to do something.'

'But he…'

'What?' Annie asked crossly, 'Bad? And what, is it possible to love only good people? If it were so that you do everything right and you are loved. What about me, I'm good, I learned how to be a lady, I will be a good wife and perfect mother. And what? Did this help me?'

'Annie, you perceive all wrong…'

'No!' the girl even slapped her hand on the table, Archibald looked around - music played, and no one noticed this emotional gesture. 'I'm already tired of listening to this. Be silent, be patient, be polite, be tactful - and everything will be fine. Be good and you will be loved. Be good - and stepparents will choose you, be good - and you will have a husband! This is all lie, and I realized this. Candy sang out of tune at the orphanage when we were singing, Candy does not know how to cook and is not interested in dresses. And she is loved.'

'Do you envy?'

'I don't envy. I just did not understand. People love you not for dresses, not for pies and not for songs. They just love and that's all.'

'He will play with her and leave, will get a mistress…' Archie started.

'If he does, Candy will escape, divorce with him, or beat him, after all! She will not keep silent and suffer, as I do.'

Miss Brighton sighed.

'I'm sorry,' Archie said softly.

'I'm sorry too.'

She got up and left, a blue dress swam among the colourful group of guests and disappeared into the carriage.