“I was weeping, and—and you saw the bruises on my arms. Father disapproved of my talking to you——”
“Ah! I understand.” And he added, under his breath, “The brute!”
“He says I must give you up.”
Tresler was looking straight before him at the window. Now he turned slowly and faced her. His expression conveyed nothing.
“And you?”
“Oh, it is so hard!” Diane burst out, in distress. “And you make it harder. Yes,” she went on miserably, “I have to give you up. I must not marry you—dare not——”
“Dare not?”
The question came without the movement of a muscle.
“Yes, he says so. Oh, don’t you see? He is blind, and I—I am his only—oh, what am I saying?”
Tresler shook his head.