Evarne was fast losing her forced calmness. She was assailed by a desperate longing to gain new courage from the ever-tender eyes of the man who loved her.
"I will go! I want to! I'm frightened here! But where is Geoff? Tell me, Jack—tell me! Send for him!"
"Geoff! Geoff!" wailed Pallister.
Evarne gave a violent start, and without moving from the doorway against which she was leaning, she bent her body forward in Pallister's direction.
"Why do you also call for him?" she queried.
The only response was a farther lament.
"Geoff, come back! Oh, Geoff, how could I leave you?"
Still bending forward, she swayed round towards Jack. Then her reluctant glance wandered from him to the form upon the couch. The mask had been removed, exposing a terrible face beneath, distorted somewhat, disfigured with fearsome livid patches and blue swollen lips. Around the mouth and nose clung mucus froth.
Evarne choked, struggling with sickness; but suddenly she sprang forward and seized Jack by the shoulders with unnatural strength.
"If you don't tell me where Geoff is, I'll—I'll——"