The resistance against telling him grew faint in her heart in its battle for desirable things.
"Ye mean," she asked, with quick intaking of breath, "that I can't be your woman if I don't tell you?"
A flush crawled to his forehead as the rich young voice flung the question at him. She was so maddeningly beautiful, so young and clinging! But she must bend to his will in a thing like this! In his desire to set her right, he answered somewhat harshly.
"You must tell me; of course, you must!"
Fledra threw him a glance, pleading for leniency. She had expected him to importune, to scold, but in the end to trust. Suddenly, in the girl's imagination, Ann's gentle face bending over Floyd rose in its loving kindness.
"Then—then," she stammered, "if you won't have me, unless I tell you—then I'll go now—please!"
She left him with pathetic dignity, and her last glance showed his eyes, too, filled with a strange pain.