“Betty—I tell you to come with me.”
“No, no!”
Her voice shivered up, all drowned and bewildered.
“You must come, dear. This is no longer a place for you. I will arrange all matters necessary about—about him there, and I will take you into my service.”
She only lowered her head deeper, and gave out a miserable sigh.
“You are forlorn and alone in the world, Betty. You would have to exchange your independence for a wretched drudgery.”
At that she looked up at last, and put her hair from her wild eyes and wet cheeks.
“I should be honest,” she whispered. “They could not be cruel to blame me even if I starved. Why should I help you to a lie and myself to misery?”
“To a lie, Betty?”
She flashed round on him quite suddenly.