.

.

.

You won't leave me--too much--alone ?" "May I write to you, dear ?" "Please.

And come when--when you can." He laughed in the utter hopelessness of it all.
"Dear, I cannot come to you unless--_he_ comes." At that the colour came back into her face.
Suddenly she stooped, touched his hands swiftly with her lips--the very ghost of contact--turned, and was gone.
Hallam's voice was hearty and amiable; also he welcomed her with a smile; but there seemed to be something hard in his eyes as he said: "I began to be afraid that you'd gone to sleep, Ailsa.