"Forgive me--I am quite unequal to it.
My head burns! my heart stifles me!" She began to pace the room again.

Aggravated by the effect of the storm on her nerves, her first vague distrust of the false position into which she and Arnold had allowed themselves to drift had strengthened, by this time, into a downright horror of their situation which was not to be endured.

Nothing could justify such a risk as the risk they were now running! They had dined together like married people--and there they were, at that moment, shut in together, and passing the evening like man and wife! "Oh, Mr.Brinkworth!" she pleaded.

"Think--for Blanche's sake, think--is there no way out of this ?" Arnold was quietly collecting the scattered cards.
"Blanche, again ?" he said, with the most exasperating composure.

"I wonder how she feels, in this storm ?" In Anne's excited state, the reply almost maddened her.