"Oh, for God's sake don't speak that way!" she replied with a sob. "Here,
I have it. Come away, quick."
As she hastily sought to cross the ruins in the street she missed her footing, and would have fallen had not his ready arm encircled her and borne her to Mrs. Hunter's side.
"Would to God I had heeded your warning, Owen," she moaned, as she sought to give her aunt some of the brandy, while he chafed the poor woman's wrists.
"You are not married to Bodine?" he asked, springing to his feet.
"No, but I am pledged to him. I cannot break faith and live. You must be my protector in a double sense, protecting me against myself. As you are a Southern gentleman, help and shield me."
"You ask what is next to impossible, Mara. I can only do my best for you."
"Oh, how I have wronged you!"
"Not so greatly as I have wronged myself. I will tell you all some other time."
"No, Owen, no. We must keep apart. We must, we must indeed. Oh, oh, it would have been better that I had died! You must harden your face and heart against me—that is the only way to help me now."
"Never shall I harden my heart against you. Whatever comes I shall be your loyal friend."