"Don't keep me waiting for your answer longer than you can help, Diana," he added, with a quiet intensity.
"You'll go away from Crailing ?" she asked nervously.
He smiled a little sadly.
"Yes, I'll go away.

I'll leave you quite free to make your decision," he replied.
She breathed a sigh of relief.

She knew that if he were to remain at Crailing, if they were to continue seeing each other almost daily, there could be but one end to the matter--her conviction that no happiness could result from such a marriage would go by the board.

It could not stand against the breathless impetuosity of Max's love-making--not when her own heart was eager and aching to respond.
"Thank you, Max," she said simply, extending her hand.
He put it aside, drawing her into his embrace.
"Beloved," he said, and now there was no passion, no fierceness of desire in his voice, only unutterable tenderness.

"Beloved, please God you will find it in your heart to be good to me.