“No, I will not take you.”
It was all he succeeded in saying before a sob choked him. Una stared at him in terrified surprise; but even then, even with his own words in her ears, she did not doubt his love for her. She waited.
“Una,” he said at last, “I cannot take you with me.”
She gazed at him with wide, pitiful eyes, like the eyes of a little child struck suddenly and inexplicably by the hand of some trusted friend. Neal trembled and turned away from her. He could not look at her while he spoke.
“Una, dearest, it is not that I do not love you. I love you. Oh, heart of my heart, I love you. I would give——”
He sobbed again. Then, with an effort, he mastered himself, and spoke slowly in low, tender tones.
“Una, your father has trusted me. He has helped me, saved me. He has been my friend. I am bound in honour to him. I cannot take you from him like this.”
“Ah!” she said. “Honour! Is your honour more than love?”
“Una, Una, can’t you understand? It’s because I love you so well that I cannot do this. Wait, dearest, wait a little while. I shall come back to you. The world is not so wide that it can keep me from you. The time will not be long.”
He turned to her, and saw again the intolerable stricken sadness of her eyes.