“Are you sure it is all to please Mr. Sutherland? If it were, I don’t think you would be able to guide him right. Is it not to get rid of your suffering by yielding to temptation, Euphra? At all events, if you go, even should Mr. Sutherland be successful with him, you will never feel that you have overcome him, or he, that he has lost you. He will still hold you fast. Don’t go. I am sure you are deceiving yourself.”
Euphra stood for a moment and pouted like a naughty child. Then suddenly throwing her arms about Margaret’s neck, she kissed her, and said:
“I won’t go, Margaret. Here, take my things up stairs for me.”
She threw off her bonnet and cloak, and rejoined Hugh in the drawing-room.
“I can’t go,” she said. “I must not go. I should be yielding to him, and it would make a slave of me all my life.”
“It is our only chance for the ring,” said Hugh.
Again Euphra hesitated and wavered; but again she conquered.
“I cannot help it,” she said. “I would rather not have the ring than go—if you will forgive me.”
“Oh, Euphra!” replied Hugh. “You know it is not for myself.”
“I do know it. You won’t mind then if I don’t go?”