"Now, strange little thing, since you cannot speak in my arms, have your
will!" he whispered.

"There is a to-morrow." The even voice had no strain of pain or sorrow in
it. "And we must not forget that. We have played and played until we have
made ourselves believe--such wonderful things; but to-morrow--we will
wake up and be what we have been made! I have heard, oh! so many people,
tell of your future, your honours. I have seen Doctor Ledyard's eyes upon
you; I know you have a mother who adores you. I do not know your world; I
could not touch your place but to mar it, and, because I love you so--oh!
so absolutely, and because I would want, and must have, glory in my own
love--we must stop playing! We have not"--and now the eyes dimmed--"we
have not played for keeps!"

"You poor, little girl! How you use the old, foolish arguments, thinking
yourself--wise. Do you imagine I could let you dim the sacred thing that
has come to us--by such idle prating? There are only you and I and--the
future. You darling child, come here!"

In reaching toward her, Travers's foot pressed too heavily against the
stone upon which she sat; it moved, slipped, and Priscilla escaped his
clutch. Not realizing her danger, she smiled up at him radiantly. She
meant what she had said, but youth could not relinquish its rights
without a struggle, and his eyes were so heavenly kind.

"My God! Clutch the bushes, Priscilla!"

"What--is the matter?" But with the question came the knowledge. She was
going down, down, and every effort he made to save her sent her farther
along the awful slope! She held to a nearby bush but uprooted it by the