"Ill--yes! I wish I might die," she murmured.
Then she suddenly grew calm and went back into the house with him. He opened the door of his room and she went in, but she passed quickly through into her own, threw herself on her lounge, drew the soft coverlid over her and closed her eyes. Frank stood helpless before her.
"I will have a cup of tea made for you," said the young man, kindly.
She looked unspeakably wretched, as she lay there, the long black lashes resting like dark shadows on her white cheeks. She must have suffered frightfully.
"Go to bed, Gertrude," he begged anxiously, "it will be better for you and tomorrow we will talk about this."
"I shall stay here," she replied decisively, turning her head away.
Then he lost patience.
"Confound your silly obstinacy!" he cried angrily. "Do you think I am a foolish boy? I will show you how naughty children ought to be treated!"
Then he turned and banging the door after him he went away.