He laid an imperative hand upon her. "Come!" he said again.
She made a movement as though to evade him, and then suddenly she faltered. Her eyes grew wide and dark. She threw out her hands with a groping gesture as if stricken blind, and fell straight forward.
Burke caught her, held her for a moment; then as she sank in his arms he lifted her, and bore her away.
CHAPTER IV
THE EVIL THING
When Sylvia opened her eyes again she was lying in the chair by the open window where she had waited so long the previous evening. Her first impression was that she was alone, and then with a sudden stabbing sense of fear she realized Burke's presence.
He was standing slightly behind her, so that the air might reach her, but leaning forward, watching her intently. With a gasp she looked up into his eyes.
He put his hand instantly upon her, reassuring her. "All right.
It's all right," he said.
Both tone and touch were absolutely gentle, but she shrank from him, shrank and quivered with a nervous repugnance that she was powerless to control. He took his hand away and turned aside.
She spoke then, her voice quick and agitated. "Don't go! Please don't go!"