“I am not going to keep anything back, little sis,” he said tenderly. “Come in here.”
He led her into the drawing room and closed the door, while she clung to him, searching his eyes with her own wistful gaze, as her lips trembled.
“Now, dear, pray tell me. Why did Tom come?”
“He had bad news, dear.”
“About his ship?” cried the girl wildly.
“Yes.”
“O Neil! It was about going back to sea!”
Neil nodded, and drew her more closely to him, but she resisted. His embrace seemed to stifle her; she could hardly breathe.
“You are cruel to me,” she panted. “But I know,” she cried half hysterically; “he has to go soon.”
“He has to do his duty as a Queen’s officer, Isabel, dear, and you must be firm.”