“Do you know why I promised?”
“No. Why did you?”
Barnes bent down toward her and said with all the ardor he could command:
“Because from the moment I saw you I became your slave. When I saw how distressed you were about your cousin this evening my heart went out to you––the instant you left I decided to act and I’ve been acting ever since.”
“Oh, how kind––what have you done?”
“I’ve watched.”
“Watched?”
“Yes, watched. You don’t understand that, but it’s a very serious matter. If you only knew how serious this whole thing is you’d realize how I am trying to help you, and the risk I am taking.”
“Oh, how noble of you! How brave you are!” and if Mrs. Burton had waited another moment before returning to the room she would have had another case for hysterics on her hands entirely separate and independent of Helen’s elopement.