"How beautiful you are, Helen!"
"You wanted to speak to me of something particular?"
"Oh, yes," arousing himself. "Yes. Now, about this affair with Everet! Things must come to a focus to-night. You understand all it means to me. Success in the scheme means advancement in every way—politically and socially—you understand as well as I. Failure,—well, we will not consider failure. Make him—"
She makes a sudden gesture of the hand:
"I cannot!—not to-night. I am not well—I—"
Braine straightens himself. He says coldly, with a flavor of reproof in his tone:
"You will not see him! This is hardly the time to indulge caprice. Of course you will see him, and do what you can. If you fail then, it will be nothing for which you are to blame; but I insist that in this crisis you make what effort you can for our mutual benefit. My advancement is yours. I shall count on you. You cannot fail if you exert yourself ever so little," with a touch of tenderness and some pride, and a great deal of confidence in the tone.
"Ed!"
Helen rises suddenly and comes towards him. She holds out her hands with a little appeal. Her face is very white, and her lips are quivering.
He takes her hands kindly, and laughs lightly: