Death then? But I wanted to live! It wasn't fair!
Bill!
His arms about me, his bare hands crushing out the flames, his agonized voice in my ears—
"Mavis! My darling!—"
I was safe. I tried to put my arms around his neck, but they fell weakly to my side. He took my hands in his and clasped them where they belonged. I was lifted, borne swiftly through the night.
Crimson flame and smoke—a roaring—a voice pleading with me to raise my head, to answer, only to speak—.
CHAPTER XX
Once, in the night, I awoke—fully. Before that, there had been periods of half-stupor, and then, a deep, restful sleep. But just for a minute, I was wide-awake, abnormally conscious.
"Bill?"