Dry-lipped, voices half stifled by their mounting emotion, they stood closely confronted, paling under the effort of self-mastery. And his was giving way, threatening hers with every breath.
Suddenly in his altered face she saw what frightened her, and her hand suddenly closed in his; but he held it imprisoned.
"Answer me, Ailsa!"
"Please—" she said—"if you will let me go—I will answer—you——"
"What?"
"What you—ask."
Her breath was coming faster; her face, now white as a flower, now flushed, swam before him. Through the surging passion enveloping him he heard her voice as at a distance:
"If you will—let me go—I can tell you——"
"Tell me now!"
"Not—this way. . . . How can you care for me if——