For a moment he stood and gazed at her, a great longing in his heart.
"Only ... to kiss her!" he said to himself, then, sternly, turned away.
And with the action, all unknown, he broke the insidious habit of years; the indecision of boyhood days changed to the firm control of the man.
The train rocked on....
In his berth above, McTaggart, restless, watched till the dawn filtered in between the blinds, pale shafts of primrose light.
He had only to lean and call her name to see those grey eyes open wide, filled with love—the love of a wife! But he fought it out, hour by hour. And as the sun stole over the edge of the long plains, white with frost, he turned on his pillow with a smile and was gathered in the arms of sleep.
CHAPTER XXXIII
McTaggart glanced at his watch.
"Ten minutes more. Are you very tired?"