"Tell me what it is?"
Helen held her face resolutely from him.
"Tell me," he urged tenderly.
"I can't!"
She threw herself prostrate and broke into sobs.
The boy wrung his hands helplessly, started to put his arm around her, caught himself in time and drew back with a start. At last he burst out passionately:
"Don't—don't! For heaven's sake don't! It hurts me more than it does you—I don't know what it is but it hurts—it hurts inside and it hurts deep—please!"
Without lifting her head Helen cried:
"I don't want to live any more!"
"Oh, is that all?" Tom laughed. "I see, you've stubbed your toe and don't want to live any more!"