I could not wait until morning.

I had to see you tonight." "And why me ?" he asked.

"Why not Rossland, or Captain Rifle, or some other?
Is it because--" He did not finish.

He saw the shadow of something gather in her eyes, as if for an instant she had felt a stab of humiliation or of pain, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

And very quietly, almost without emotion, she answered him.
"I know how you feel.