“How can you be so hard and unfeeling?” demanded his cousin, approaching. “Do you not see how you excite him by your refusals? And it is so little that he asks—simply to stay by him till the last hour, that may come sooner than any one expects. See how humbly he sues, when, as your husband, he has a right to command your obedience.”
“I do not acknowledge that claim!” Daisie cried, with a flashing eye.
“Nor do I urge it,” Royall Sherwood faltered quickly. “I waive all rights, if I have any, and ask your stay for sweet pity’s sake.”
That humility touched her heart as no arrogant demands could have done, and it made it all the harder for her to withstand their appeals.
But, bracing herself for a supreme effort, she reiterated:
“I—I really cannot stay any longer than to-morrow. I am compelled to return to New York to my work. I—I—have written that I am coming.”
“That makes no difference,” began Mrs. Fleming, but paused in consternation as a slight young figure dashed across the floor to Daisie, and a tremulous voice cried excitedly:
“Cruel, hard-hearted girl! You shall not refuse his prayer! Will you let a man die of heartbreak when your kindness would save his life?”
CHAPTER XIX.
STRANGE EMOTION.
It was the little, dark-eyed beauty, Annette Janowitz, who had been listening by the door for some minutes, and now, unable to restrain her excitement, rushed to Daisie’s side with a passionate protest: