"Well, Georgia?"
No reply.
"Georgia!" Richmond cried, anxiously.
She lifted her eyes.
"Well?"
"Georgia, will you go—I want you to—you don't know how deeply grieved I shall be if you refuse; so deeply grieved that we shall be friends no longer. Georgia, I am going away from here soon—I may never come back—never see you again, and I should be sorry we should part bad friends. Georgia, will you go?"
"Yes."
It was a hard-wrung assent. The word dropped from her lips as though it burned them.
Charley's whistle at that moment spoke volumes. Emily looked delighted, and the face of Richmond Wildair lit up with triumph and exultation. Once that "yes" had been uttered he knew her word would be sacredly kept. How he exulted that moment in his power.
"Thank you, Georgia," he cried, springing to his feet, and holding out his hand, "we are fast friends forever now."