"Listen!" she cried.
"Not thus," said he, a frown between his eyes.

He took her by the elbows and gently but very firmly brought her to her feet again.

"It is not fitting you should kneel save at your prayers." She was standing now, and very close to him, his hands still held her elbows, though their touch was so light that she scarce felt it.
To release them was easy, and the next second her hands were on his shoulders, her brave eyes raised to him.
"Mr.Wilding," she implored him, "you'll not let Richard be destroyed ?" He looked down at her with kindling glance, his arms slipped round her lissom waist.

"It is hard to deny you, Ruth," said he.

"Yet not my love of my own life compels me; but my duty, my loyalty to the cause to which I am pledged.