"But you are mine," he persisted, "all mine."
She led him up the path toward the house.
"Sometimes I am afraid I shall swallow you up, as the sea swallows up the ship, in a storm of passion."
"Oh no, you will not."
"Why not?"
"Because I am helpless. Was there more to your story?"
"You know then I haven't told it all."
"Tell me the rest."
"When he had finished, I told him I, too, had something to say. 'I shall deliver your message to Alice,' I said. 'But it is only fair to say to you I mean to make her my wife if she will accept me, and her choice will lie between you and me, MacBirney.'
"You should have seen his amazement. Then he collected himself for a stab--and I tried not to let him see that it went deep. 'Whatever the outcome,' he said, 'she will never marry you.'