"Wait——"
"Sister! Are you insane?"
"You must be, Mr. Halkett——"
"Keep away, I tell you——"
"Please don't be rough with me——"
He tried to avoid her, but her strong, young hands had caught both his wrists.
"They won't shoot at a Sister of Charity!" she repeated. "—And I shall not permit them to murder you! Be reasonable! I am not afraid."
She held on to his wrists, keeping always between him and the distant glimmer of the river:
"I shall walk to the road with you this way; don't try to shake me off; I am strong, I warn you!" She was even laughing now. "Please do not wriggle! Only schoolboys wriggle. Do you suppose I am afraid? Since when, Monsieur, have Sisters of Charity taken cover from the enemies of France?"
"This is shameful for me——"