She seemed to be considering. Her face lighted.
"I could almost do it," she owned. "Electra's having me here helps out a lot, but I could almost do it-on my polluted gains."
Billy Stark looked into the distance. In his earlier years he had loved to ride and take his fences well, even when they loomed too high. He could not remember many great challenges in life; but what he had recognized, he had not refused. Everything he had met like an honest gentleman.
"Florrie," he said, "I shan't want to leave you here in Electra's clutches. You come—and marry me."
She laughed a little. It was sadly done, but the pink came back into her cheeks.
"As true as I am a living sinner, Billy," she said, "I'd do it, if I were half sure how we were coming out."
"Coming out?"
"Yes. If I thought I should be pretty vigorous up to the end, and then die in my chair, like a lady. Yes, I'd do it, and thank ye, too. But a million things might happen to me. I might be palsied and helpless on your hands, head nodding, deaf as a post—damn, Billy! I could swear."
"I might give out myself," he said generously. "You might be the one to tote the burden."
The old lady laughed again.