“But if we went back into it—if we escaped?”
“Then we should—but don’t let’s talk of that.”
“Then you should forget and I should return to Benton,” she said. “I have decided. I should return to Benton, where Montoyo is, and maybe find another way. But I should not live with him; never, never! I should ask him to release me.”
“I, with you,” I informed. “We should go together, and do what was best.”
“You would? You wouldn’t be ashamed, or afraid?”
“Ashamed or afraid of what?”
She cried out happily, and shivered. 306
“I hope we don’t have to. He might kill you. Yes, I hope we don’t have to. Do you mind?”
I shook my head, smiling my response. There were tears in her eyes, repaying me.
Our conversation became more fitful. Time sped, I don’t know how, except that we were in a kind of lethargy, taking no note of time and hanging fast to this our respite from the tempestuous past.