"Blanch," he said at last, hoarsely and almost in a whisper, "it takes a
better man than I to say 'no' to you, and I don't say it. But I have
changed." The mere fact of speaking and the sound of his voice seemed
to recall him to himself, to the realization of where he was and what he
was doing. He felt that he was still master of himself and his
confidence slowly returned. "I know you can't understand," he continued.
"But somehow, I seem to have grown beyond you."

"Jack," she said, drawing still closer and laying her hand upon his arm
and looking up into his face, "I know you have had more experience than
I have had, but don't imagine that you have grown beyond me. Your ideas
have caused me to think. I, too, have grown since we last parted. If you
can give up the world, so can I. If you will not return again to the
world with me, I'll remain here with you. I'll do anything you say!" she
cried in passionate surrender. "My body is soft perhaps in comparison to
hers, but I'm strong. I'll soon be as strong as you or she and be all
the more to you, infinitely more to you than she can ever be. I know I
did you a great wrong in the past, Jack, but let me make up for it now.
It is my privilege, my debt to you, and your duty to let me do it. You
have no right to break your promise to me, Jack. You can't. Your manhood
must tell you that it is as sacred now as the day you gave it to me, and
I hold you to it. I'll show you a love you have never known--can never
know without me!" She drew still closer, laying her other hand upon his
shoulder caressingly; her arm almost encircling his neck. He felt her
warm, fragrant breath upon his lips and the thrilling, magnetic touch of
her body, vibrating and pulsating with passion and emotion. How soft and
voluptuous and tempting and alluring that body and presence were! It
was as though the spices and perfumes and sunshine of far away, mythical
Cathay had suddenly descended upon him and enveloped him.

"Jack," she continued, "we have always been comrades, pals; we were made
for one another! We are one in thought now as much as we ever were--more
than we ever have been!"

He knew this to be false; that he possessed a grip on life which she did
not; that he had passed far beyond her since they had last parted. She
had had her opportunity and had thrown it away. It was too late. She
could not follow him now, she had missed the psychological moment. Even
had she cast her lot with his in the begi