"You know that nothing would make any difference to me."
"Ah, you don't know! But perhaps you could—" Then raising her head she spoke with a harder voice. "But that's weak. One must expect to pay for what one does,—pay everything. Oh, my God!"
The fog had retreated slowly from their level. They stood on the edge looking into its depth. Suddenly Vickers exclaimed with energy:—
"You must end this, Isabelle! It will kill you."
"I wish it might!"
"End it!" and he added slowly, "Send him away—or let me take you away!"
"I—I—can't,—Vick!" she cried. "It has got beyond me…. It is not just for myself—just me. It's for him, too. He needs me. I could do so much for him! And here I can do nothing."
"And John?"
"Oh, John! He doesn't care, really—"
"Don't say that!"