"Yes," she said dully, "and I am afraid."
He went on, with gathering determination:
"So you must go back and wait. I shall pull through, but you couldn't, and I couldn't help you. You'd drag me back. You must have patience and faith. When I've made my position safe here——"
"You will not want me," she interrupted gently. "You'll have climbed too high for me, Jim. That's why I am afraid."
He laughed a little. His hand brushed the tears from her hot cheeks, and passed on caressingly down her arm to her wrist and lingered there.
"You're tired and fanciful, Marie. Some one's been putting ideas into your head. You've got to trust me and help me——"
"Jim—what are you doing?" she whispered.
"The bracelet—the one I gave you—you're still wearing it——?"
"Always. Night and day. It's been like a bit of you——"
"I want it back——"