There was a moment of silence. “Dicksie understood you to say that you were in doubt as to whether you ought to go away with him when he asked you to go. That is why I was unsettled in my mind.”
“The only reason why I doubted was that I thought by going I might save better lives than mine. I could willingly give up my life to do that. But to stain it by going back to such a man––God help me!”
“I think I understand. If the unfortunate 345 should happen before I come back I hope only this: that you will not hate me because I am the man on whom the responsibility has fallen. I haven’t sought it. And if I should not come back at all, it is only––good-by.”
He saw her clasp her hands convulsively. “I will not say it! I will pray on my knees that you do come back.”
“Good-night, Marion. Some one is at the cottage door.”
“It is probably Mr. McCloud and Dicksie. I will let them in.”