"For her sake," I pleaded again, and held out my hand for the phial.
"You would torture me?"
"Yes, for your good."
The struggle in him was acute and searching. "It's no good; I can't," he murmured, his gaze on the phial.
I summoned all the will power at my command and forced him to meet my eyes. "For her sake; as if she were here; give it me," I said.
"I shall hate you if you make me."
"For her sake," I repeated. We looked each into the other's eyes, until I had conquered.
"I suppose I must," he murmured with a sigh; and let the little bottle fall into my hand. I threw it down and ground it and the pellets to powder with my heel. He watched me with a curious smile. "How savage you are. As if you thought that could finish it."
"No. It is only the beginning—but a good beginning."
He got up. "We'd better go now, before I begin to hate you."