"Certainly; one this very night."
"I will go with you. But leave me now, leave me. Here is my hand, I go with you."
She sat motionless, her hands folded, her eyes closed. Sonnenkamp took her hand firmly in his, touched her wedding-ring, and drew it gently from her finger.
"What are you doing?" exclaimed Bella in sudden passion. Her eyes were fixed on Sonnenkamp; she saw the ring in his hand.
"Let me keep it as a pledge," he urged.
"What do you mean? We are not people to make a scene. Give it to me."
He gave back the ring; but she did not return it to her finger.
That night, a steamer stopped at the little town; there was a storm of wind and rain, and the engine screeched and hissed. On the wharf stood a man wrapped in his cloak, and presently a tall veiled figure passed him.
"Leave me to myself!" the woman said as she hurried by.
A plank was laid across from the steamer: the woman crossed it, followed by the man.