Even as they enter, Mamma, stealing close to Leslie, whispers in her ear:
“If ye ever want to see yer gal agin, marry him.”
Leslie Warburton looks into the wolfish face beside her; looks across at Franz, and then at the three new-comers. What stolid faces! She sees no hope there. And then, as Mamma’s words repeat themselves in her ear, she leans against the rickety closet-door and utters a despairing moan.
“Quick!” whispers Mamma, “it’s yer last chance!”
CHAPTER LVI.
AT THE RIGHT TIME.
“Ye see,” explains Franz, glancing toward Leslie, “the lady’s kind o’ hesitatin’. We’ll give her a minute or two ter make up her mind.” And he goes over and takes his stand beside her.
In the moment of silence that follows, Leslie can hear her heart beat, then—
What is it that breaks that strange stillness, that startles so differently every occupant of that dingy room?