He saw, by the prayer in her eyes, by the urgency of her voice, that she was in earnest, and he held himself in check with an effort.
"Help me," she faltered, "to be faithful to my word. I did promise—just before he started for Siberia, I did tell him I would be—his wife. You saved me once ... save me again! This time from myself. I am so tossed about, I can hardly see what I ought to do. But I am not free—you see that, don't you? I am bound; I—we—we ought not to do this. Have pity on me, be good to me, be my brother till we reach our journey's end!"
He drew a long breath, and passed a shaking hand over his knocking temples. But she had, in her desperate fear, touched the right note with him. She was in his power. For two more days they must fare together; and she appealed to him for forbearance. To that appeal he could not turn deaf ears.
"It's a puzzle," he said, heavily; "and I don't see the rights of it. But don't be afraid of me, Rona. I—I am to be trusted. I would give my life for you. Make yourself easy; I promise not to distress you."
And as she lifted to him her quivering face, her suffused eyes, and her mouth just touched by a smile of complete trust, he knew that he was taking the very course that would make her love him more than ever.
"I must just say this," he muttered. "You ought not to marry him until he—knows."
She winced; but she stood firm.
"I shall tell him—as soon as I can," she replied, tremulously.