“Why not?”
“If I don’t—I don’t know what’ll happen,” he said, very low. “Davy, it’s all very well for you to stand here and say what you say. You’ve got a cold head. Do you think a man in my position is normal? Do you think that he knows what he is doing half the time? I tell you, Davy, I’m afraid—afraid.”
My mind was made up on that instant.
“Ben, you know I’d do anything in the world for you, don’t you? Will you trust me to make the decision for you?”
“Yes,” he said, after a moment.
“You are coming back with me.” I hesitated, and then added: “For I’m afraid, too.”
So, it is agreed that we go off to France together, though nothing is to be said of it for the present. That is three weeks ahead; much can happen before then. Will he hold to his determination? Will he find the strength to wrench himself free of the slavery of the senses,—for that is all there is to it? I don’t know. I can only wait, fearful of the issue. I can only hope and pray.
* * * * *
Letty, I knew, would have noticed our absence and be watching for our return, and though I didn’t see her when we came into the hall, I was certain that somewhere in the crowd her sharp, unquiet eyes were on us. Late in the evening she came to me as I had expected.
“Eh bien, Davy mio, you are amusing yourself?”