If Muller were removed Bessie would marry John, provided that John escaped the Boers, and be happy, but what would become of herself?
Robbed of her love and with this crime upon her mind, what could she do even if she escaped--except die?
It would be better to die and never see him again, for her sorrow and her shame were more than she could bear.

Then Jess began to think of John till all her poor bruised heart seemed to go out towards him.
Bessie could never love him as she did, she felt sure of that, and yet Bessie was to have him by her all her life, and she--she must go away.
Well, it was the only thing to do.

She would see this deed done, and set her sister free, then if she happened to escape she would go at once--go quite away where she would never be heard of again.

Thus at any rate she would have behaved like an honourable woman.

She sat up and put her hands to her face.