live comfortably, even luxuriously, with a woman of whom you could be
justly proud, and who would bend every power with the sole view of
making you happy?"--she was blushing hotly--"and all this woman would
demand in return would be your loyalty, your respect--and later your
love, if that were possible."

"But this--this is--astounding!" Peter exclaimed.

"I expected you to say that. But let me assure you, I have thought
this over. I have given it every possible consideration, and now I
know there is no other way. I want to leave China. I want to go away
forever and ever. I must leave."

Her shoulders jerked nervously.

"My life has been miserable--so miserable. And I am not brave enough
to go through with it alone. I am afraid, terribly afraid. And afraid
of myself, and of my weakness. I must be encouraged, must have some
one to make me strong and brave, and afterward to take the good in me
and bring it out, and kill the bad."

She relinquished Peter's hand and thumped her chest with small fists.

"There is good in me; but it has never been given a chance! I want a
man who will bring that good out, a man who will make me fine and true
and honorable. For such a man I would give everything--my life!" She
lowered her voice. "I would give my best--my love. When I saw you
lift the coolie, after he showed you his knife, I thought you were such
a man; and when I looked into your face I believed I had found such a
man. The rest--remains--for you to say."

"Where do you want me to t-take you?" demanded Peter.

"Ah! That is of so little importance! To Nara--Nagoya--to
Australia--America."

She shrugged, as if to say, "and little I care."

"Now I am offering you only two rewards for that sacrifice--your safety
against _them_--and money. You can name your price. I feel that you
will come to love me; but that can come, if it cares, any time. When
you want me--I will be waiting. I want you to consider this now. Now!
Will you? Tell me that you will!"

"I--I don't know what to say!" stammered Peter in a husky voice.
"Are--you are not joking, are you, Miss Borria? You can't be! But
this is so serious! Shocking! Why, you never saw me before! Why
should you pick me for such a thing when you never saw me? You don't
know me. You don't know what a brute I might be. Why, I might be
married for all you know----"

"I am reasonably sure," said the girl with some of her former serenity.

"But this