"Yes, Garry brought the letter up."
"When—"
"I'm sailing in a week. I go from here—to-morrow."
"Brian!"
The terror in her eyes startled him and the tension snapped. An instant later she was crying wildly in his arms. Brian crushed his lips against her cheek, conscious only of an agonizing stab of joy, then Joan pulled away, her eyes dark with grief and shame.
"Oh, Brian, Brian," she whispered passionately, "I—want—to die."
"I've wanted to die for weeks," said Brian. "Almost I think I did."
Joan caught her breath with a shuddering gasp.
"Don't!" said Brian. "I—can't bear to hear you cry. I've always known that I was a pretty poor sort but this—"
His honest eyes begged for understanding,