"You are naturally brave, Elsie! I feel that I owe my life to you."
"And I wished you dead!" said Elsie self-reproachfully. "I can never forget it. Wished you dead when you were knocked down and when the tiger threatened you. Inza, it was something awful!"
"It was because you love Frank!"
"And you love Frank! You have confessed as much."
"Perhaps I do. I hardly know myself. But you have shown to-day that you are much more worthy of him than I am. Don't worry about any of those troubles any more."
She straightened up, with the look of a renouncing queen, while her dark eyes shone like stars.
"Elsie, I will go away from here if it is necessary. I will not disturb you and Frank."
"I take back all I said the other day!" Elsie quivered. "I retract every word. They were selfish, jealous, hateful words. They led me to murderous thoughts—for those thoughts about you to-day were really murderous. You shall not go away! Not unless I go away, too!"
"Then we can be friends, dear!" said Inza, laying a hand softly on the golden head. "That is what we will try to be, if you will, in spite of everything."
"Yes," Elsie assented, "though I am not worthy to be your friend."