‘I can’t leave you like this,’ he said, and clung to her. ‘Judith, is there nothing I can do?’
She reflected.
‘Yes. Will you do something for me?’
‘Of course I will.’ His eyes lit up for an instant.
‘Listen, Martin. Suppose he ever mentions me——’
She felt herself going white and stopped.
‘Yes?’ he muttered.
She went on breathlessly:
‘I don’t think he will, but if he should.... Supposing he ever starts to tell you something that happened—between him and me—please, you mustn’t let him. Promise! If he begins, stop him. I shall never see him again; soon I shall stop thinking about him: but you mustn’t know what happened. It was just a little silly thing—I shall see it quite differently some day ... but if I thought people knew I should die. Martin, don’t try to find out.’
‘All right, Judith. It’s none of my business.’