He glanced longingly at the door through which she had vanished.
Then restraining his inclination, he picked up his hat and left the room.
Leonie heard the closing of the door, and entered immediately.
How dreary and desolate it seemed!
Deliberately she had cut herself from him, leaving herself absolutely alone, with not one human being that she could call her friend.
A great pity for herself surged into her heart, pity for the loneliness of her situation, for the isolation that had been thrust upon her through no fault of her own.
She sat down for a moment, burying her face in her hands; then she lifted it, ghastly with fierce determination.
"This is no time for inactivity or irresolution!" she cried passionately. "I must follow the life that Heaven has seen fit to fasten upon me without consent of mine. I am a nameless creature, but I can still have the courage to save my sister. Lynde Pyne has pledged himself to pay fifteen hundred dollars to the court to-morrow in default of my presence. Virtually I am simply forcing a loan upon him, for it shall be repaid to the last farthing. My weakness has fallen from me like a mantle. When that is repaid, I can allow my grief indulgence, but until then——"
She drew pen, ink and paper to her, and began hastily to write the following:
"My dear Mr. Pyne,—Realizing all the truth of what you said to me last night, I have decided to take matters into my own hands. When you receive this, I shall be many miles from here. I understand the fact of your being compelled to pay the fifteen hundred dollars for which you stand pledged for me, but I promise that it shall be repaid to the last penny with interest from date. Thanking you for the kindly interest that you have taken in me, and trusting that you will forgive me for this step that is the only one left me, I am
"Very truly yours,
"Leonie Cuyler."