“I must. I’ve got to. It may be my only chance. Esther, don’t you care anything about me? I thought—I was beginning to hope— Oh, Esther, you are the only girl in the world for me. I love you.”
“Bob! Bob! Don’t!”
“I do. I love you. Say you love me! Say it! Say it!”
She had risen to her feet. Some wild idea of escape—of running from the room—was in her mind. But his arms were about her.
“Say it! Say it, dear!” he pleaded.
“No, no! I mustn’t! You mustn’t—”
“You do love me? You do, don’t you, Esther?”
“Oh, I don’t know! I— Oh, of course I don’t! I mustn’t! Let me go.”
“No, I shan’t let you go until you tell me. You do care for me, dear? Tell me you do.”
“No, Bob.... Oh, please let me go!”