“It would be worth a bullet through the head,” he said, “to hear you speak like that! But I’m not hurt—I’m—not—”
His labored voice almost broke her heart.
“Sambo!” she cried. “Please, please let me see! Stop! Stop!”
He did stop then. He put his arm about her, and drew her close to him.
“My little darling!” he said. “My little blessed angel! For you to care like this!”
She let her head rest against his shoulder. She let him kiss her pale, cold cheek. Then she began to sob.
“Tell me!” she pleaded.
“I’m not hurt,” he said gently. “Nothing for you to cry about, little sweetheart; only, don’t you see, you’ve got to get home quick, before he does? If you’ll go quietly[Pg 308] to your room, and say nothing, there’ll be no harm done. Come, now!”
He took his arm from her shoulder, and started the engine. He went still faster now. She spoke, but he did not answer. His eyes were intent upon the road before him. He stopped at the foot of Serena’s garden.
“Now stroll up to the house as if you’d been taking a walk,” he said.