She wrung her hands in a kind of agony. "John, I can't bear much more; you'll have to leave me now. Give me a little time, I—I can't bear it!"
"My darling, forgive me!"
"Don't, John," she sobbed, "don't kiss me again—I've got to give you up."
"I won't give you up."
"I've no right to disgrace poor Eva, to disgrace Astry; he's had enough to bear, and that's what it would cost. Can't you see it?"
"It needn't, but Belhaven must release you, I'll make him."
"John, I can't do it. I love you, let me believe in you."
"Have I got to suffer for Belhaven?"
She slipped down on her knees beside a chair, and burying her head on her arms, gave way to her grief. The spiritual agony had given birth to agony of the body and she wept bitterly. He tried to raise her in his arms but she resisted, still weeping.
"Rachel, you'll make me kill Belhaven."