I could not, would not, go under the poor-law and accept you, with the lash of a broken pledge in your hand, as my guardian.

So that's why I left, and that's why I stay here, and that's why I'm going to stay here, Mona." He looked at her firmly, though his face had that illumination which the spirit in his eyes--the Celtic fire drawn through the veins of his ancestors--gave to all he did and felt; and now as in a dream he saw little things in her he had never seen before.

He saw that a little strand of her beautiful dark hair had broken away from its ordered place and hung prettily against the rosy, fevered skin of her cheek just beside her ear.

He saw that there were no rings on her fingers save one, and that was her wedding-ring--and she had always been fond of wearing rings.

He noted, involuntarily, that in her agitation the white tulle at her bosom had been disturbed into pretty disarray, and that there was neither brooch nor necklace at her breast or throat.
"If you stay, I am going to stay too," she declared in an almost passionate voice, and she spoke with deliberation and a look which left no way open to doubt.