"No—no longer. Everything's dead in me except the longing for—quiet. I'll pay any price for it—except misuse of friends."
"How could you misuse Rix by marrying him?"
"By accepting what I could never return."
"Love?"
"Yes."
"Does he ask that?"
"N-no—not now. But—he wants it. And I haven't it to give. So I can't take his—and let him work all his life for my comfort—I can't take it from Sir Charles and accept the position and fortune he offered me once——"
She lay silent a moment, then unclosed her eyes.
"Molly," she said, "I don't believe that Sir Charles is going to mind very much."
Molly met her eyes for an instant, very near, and a pale flash of telepathy passed between them. Then Strelsa smiled.