he
clung to him as if she would hold him back by sheer physical force
from the abyss at his feet. "Oh, Guy, it is worth while!" she
pleaded. "Indeed--indeed it is worth while--whatever it costs.
Guy,--I beseech--I implore you----"

She broke off, for with a lightning movement he had taken her face
between his hands. "You can make it worth while," he said. "I
will do it--for you."

He held her passionately close for an instant, but he did not kiss
her. She saw the impulse to do so in his eyes, and she saw him
beat it fiercely back. That was the only comfort that remained to
her when the next moment he sprang away and went so swiftly from
her that he was lost to sight almost before she knew that he was
gone.

CHAPTER VIII

THE SUMMONS

When Kelly awoke that morning, it was some time later, and Burke
was entering his hut with a steaming cup of cocoa. The Irishman
stretched his large bulk and laughed up at his friend.

"Faith, it's the good host that ye are! I've slept like a top, my
son, and never an evil dream. How's the lad this morning? And
how's the land?"

"The land's all right so far," Burke said. "I'm just off to help
them bring in the animals. The northern dam has failed."

Kelly leaped from his bed. "I'll come. That's just the job for me
and St. Peter. Don't bring the missis along though! It's too much
for her."

"I know that," Burke said shortly. "I've told her so. She is to
take it easy for a bit. The climate is affecting her."

Kelly looked at him with his kindly, curious eyes. "Can't you get
things fixed up here and bring her along to Brennerstadt for the
races and the diamond gamble? It would do you both good to have a
change."

Burke shook his head, "I doubt if she would care for it. And young
Guy would want to come too. If he did, he would soon get up to
mischief again. He has gone back to his hut this morning, cleared
out early. I hope he is to be trusted to behave himself."

"Oh, leave the boy alone!" said Kelly. "He's got some decent
feelings of his own, and it doesn't do to mother him too much.
Give him his head for a bit! He's far less likely to bolt."

Burke shrugged his shoulders. "I can't hold him if he means to go,
I quite admit. But I haven't much faith in his keeping on the
straight, and that's a fact. I don't like his going back to the
hut, and I'd have prevented it if I'd known. But I slept in the
sitting-room last night, and I was dead b