"You—you will? Oh, my darling!" and he made to take her in his arms, but she put out her hands and kept him off.
"Yes," she said in a low, dull voice, "I will go with you. I see it is useless to fight against you."
"It is, it is!" he assented, intently. "And you will come to the cathedral——"
"No," she said, like one repeating a lesson; "come to me here at five o'clock. I—I am not strong enough to go out. Come at five o'clock, and—I will be ready."
He knelt on one knee, and taking her hand, pressed it to his lips.
"Violet, you know that I can keep an oath. I have proved it, have I not? Then hear me swear that you shall never regret your resolution. I will wipe out the past, I will surround you with a love that shall cause you to forget all that has happened, and that, that—must make you happy! At five! Go now and lie down, dearest! You will need all your strength, for the journey must be a long and a swift one. A few hours and we shall be beyond the reach of pursuit! And then—ah, then, your new life will commence! A life which my love shall make one dream of happiness! Go, dearest! At five! Remember!"
He led her to the door; she drew her hand from his hot, burning fingers, and pressed it on her forehead, then as she opened the door she turned and looked at him—a steady, resolute look.
"I will remember," she said. "I will be ready when you come!"