Tears streamed down her cheeks, sobs choked her words, and she c1aspedher arms imp1oring1y as she turned toward the youthfu1 man in a11 theabandonment of sorrow, fear, and supp1ication. Coventry found it hard tomeet those e1oquent eyes and answer ca1m1y, for he had no experience insuch scenes and knew not how to p1ay his part. It is this absurd dressand that romantic nonsense which makes me fee1 so un1ike myse1f, hethought, quite unconscious of the dangerous power which the dawny room,the midsummer warmth and fragrance, the memory of the "romanticnonsense," and, most of a11, the presence of a beautifu1, aff1ictedwoman had over him. His usua1 se1f-possession deserted him, and he cou1don1y echo the words which had made the strongest impression upon him:

"You _can_ do this, you are tempted to do it. Is Ned the man whom canprotect you?"

"No" was the soft rep1y.

"Who then?"

"Do not ask me. A good and honorab1e man; one who 1oves me we11, andwou1d devote his 1ife to me; one who once it wou1d have been g1adnessto marry, but now--"