“Well,” she said quietly, “there’s no use pretending any more, is there?”
As I had no reply she continued—
“We might as well admit out loud that neither of us feels—well, exactly jolly about it.”
“That’s true,” I replied inanely.
We were silent again.
“What—what are we going to do about it, Mr. Pitt?”
“There is nothing much to do; we are safe for the time being. So long as we keep out of Brack’s sight we are safe. For the present we could do just that—and hope.”
Betty heard me without a word. Once more she bowed her face upon her hands, and her girlish shoulders trembled. I was at her side in an instant.
“Don’t, Betty, please don’t!” I pleaded. “You mustn’t give way. It’s rough, and it’s hard, specially hard for a girl like you, but don’t give way for—for my sake. It’s been your fine courage and cheerfulness that’s kept me from showing that I’m really a coward. Yes, it is; you’ve kept me from being a coward. Don’t—please don’t be afraid. We’ll get out of this all right somehow, sure.”
She looked at me, her eyes moist, but with her old thoughtful look in them.