A look of contempt passed over Everest's face as he turned again to Merton in silence, his eyes seemed to say, "You see what a liar she is."
"Will you admit your relations with her?"
"If Sybil wishes me to, yes, I admit that, otherwise I should never have admitted it to anyone."
"Then you owe her some reparation."
"I owe her nothing," rejoined Everest, with some heat. "It was a mutual amusement, and she understood perfectly from the very first it was not, and could not be, anything more. I decline to discuss the matter any further. It is done, over. As far as I am concerned it is effaced from my mind. What do you want, Merton? Do you want a duel with me over it, or what?"
"No, oh no, of course not," Merton replied hastily; "that can do no good. I want you to promise to marry her some time, next year, say. Why not, Everest? It has always been thought and talked of in our families, and Sybil has as much as you have. We have all hoped you two would marry."
"I refuse absolutely. You must be made of stone if you can talk of my marrying your sister when the woman I love is between life and death because of her devotion and self-sacrifice. Sybil would not be here at all to make her mad charges and demands but for her. She is my wife, or will be as soon as I can make her so. It is useless to go on talking. Let me pass."
Merton moved from the door and Everest, without a glance at Sybil, went out.
Coming out of her tent, white with anger and vibrating with an indignation he could not repress, little as his general impulse was to condemn others, he ran almost against the doctor who was coming from Regina.
"How is she?" he asked. "Is she out of danger now? For God's sake tell me she is."