“Because I am finding it in my heart to believe in you, trust you, hold fast to your strength and protection. And if I give way—yield—and if I make you a promise—and if there is anybody in that room to see us and hear us—then we shall be destroyed, both of us, soul and body——”
He took her hands, held them until their trembling ceased.
“I’ll answer for our bodies. Let God look after the rest. Will you trust Him?”
She nodded.
“And me?”
“Yes.”
But her face blanched as he turned the latch-key, switched on the electric light, and preceded her into the room beyond.
The place was one of those accentless, typical bachelor apartments made comfortable for anything masculine, but quite unlivable otherwise.
Live coals still glowed in the hob grate; he placed a lump of cannel coal on the embers, used a bellows vigorously and the flame caught with a greasy crackle.
The girl stood motionless until he pulled up an easy chair for her, then he found another for himself. She let slip her furs, folded her hands around the bunch of violets and waited.