Is there anyone who cares the toss of a halfpenny what I do?"

"Yes." Breathlessly she answered him; the words seemed to leap
from her of their own accord, and surely it was hardly of her own
volition that she followed and held his arm, detaining him. "Guy!
You know we care. Burke cares. I care. Guy, please, dear,
please! It's such a pity. Oh, it's such a pity! Won't you--can't
you--fight against it? Won't you even--try? I know you could
conquer, if only--if only you would try!" Her eyes were raised to
his. She besought him with all the strength of her being. She
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