course you didn't mean that," he said.

She struggled weakly against his strength.

"I don't know. I thought I did.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} It's terrible. You know{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I wrote you {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
some one saw us together. Gordon and mother found out about it. I won't
tell you all that they said, but it was awful. It made me angry, and they
found out that I love you. It had a terrible effect on Gordon. It made him
worse. I can't tell you how awful it is for me. I love you. But I love him
too. And to think I'm hurting him when he's sick, when I've lived in the
hope he would get well.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"

She was breathing hard now. Her eyes were bright with tears. All her
defences were down, her fine dignity vanished. When he took her in his
arms she struggled a little at first; then yielded with closed eyes to his
hot kisses.

Afterward they talked a little, but not to much purpose. He had important
things to tell her, they had plans to make. But their great disturbing
hunger for each other would not let them think of anything else. Their
conversation was always interrupted by hot confusing embraces.

The clock struck eleven, and she jumped up.

"I promised to make you go home at eleven," she told him.

"But I must tell you {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I have to leave town for a while." He found his
tongue suddenly. Briefly he outlined the situation he faced with regard to
his estate. Of course, he said nothing about the _penitentes_, but he made
her understand that he was going forth to fight for both their fortunes.

"I can't do it, I won't go, unless I know I am to have you," he finished.
"Everything I have done, everything I am going to do is for you. If I lose
you I lose everything. You promise to go with me?"

His eyes were burning with earnestness, and hers were wide with
admiration. He did not really understand her, nor she him. Unalterable
differences of race and tradition and temperament stood between them. They
had little in common save a great primitive hunger. But that,
none-the-less, for the moment genuinely transfigured and united them.

She drew a deep breath.

"Yes. You must promise not to try to see me until then. When you are
ready, let me know."

She threw back her head, opening her arms to him. For a moment she hung
limp in his embrace; then pushed him away and ran upstairs, leaving him to
find his way out alone.

He walked home slowly, trying to straighten out h