Part 47 (1/2)

”I know,” echoed Roberts. ”I've heard it.”

”And then he went away. I sent him away. I couldn't stand any more then.

It seemed to me I'd go mad if I tried.”

Although the room was warm, the girl was s.h.i.+vering; rising, Roberts lit the gas in the grate. But he said nothing, absolutely nothing.

Through wide-open eyes the girl watched him as he returned to his seat.

Involuntarily she threw out both arms in a gesture of impotency absolute.

”That's all,” she completed, ”except that I told him to return--if he felt he must. I've been expecting him every minute all day; antic.i.p.ating horrors. But I haven't heard a word.”

It was the mystery at last, impersonate. Like a live presence it stood there between these two human beings in the room, holding them apart, and each in his separate place.

Not for a moment but for minutes this time they sat in silence. Neither thought of speaking commonplaces now, nor again of things intimate. The period for these was past; the present too compellingly vital. What the man was thinking he did not say nor reveal by so much as an expression.

He had given his word not to do so; and with Darley Roberts a promise was sacred. A question he did ask, though, at last.

”Wouldn't you like me to go and find out for certain, Elice?” he suggested. ”I'll do so if you wish.”

”No.” It was almost a plea. ”We'll find out soon, very soon, I'm positive. I'll know whatever he does. He's certain to tell me; and I wish you here if he comes. Besides, neither of us could do anything whatever to alter the inevitable, even if we tried. We must simply wait; it can't be much longer now.”

Once more there was a long silence, ghastly in its dragging moments, and again broken by the man.

”I shan't trouble you to go through the argument again, Elice,” he said, ”or attempt to alter your decision, whatever it may be. I can't presume to judge another's soul. But, merely to know for certain: you've decided positively to marry him, if--” The sentence ended in silence and a gesture.

His companion did not answer, appeared almost not to hear.

”Tell me, please,” repeated the man gently. ”You may as well. It won't hurt either of us any more for you to say it--if you've so decided.”

”Yes,” answered the girl this time. ”I've tried and tried to find an escape; but there is none.” She pa.s.sed her hand over her throat as though the words choked her, but her voice was now steady. ”His blood would be upon my head, always, if I could prevent and still let him go--down. G.o.d help you and me both, but I can't do otherwise!”

A moment longer Roberts sat still--fixedly still; he stood up, his great hands clenched until they were as white as the scar itself.

”I think I'd better go now,” he said, ”before Armstrong comes.” The great shoulders of him were swelling and receding visibly with each breath. ”I don't know, of course; but I fear to go pa.s.sive and unresisting to the stake myself, and to remain pa.s.sive and unresisting when I saw the same fire that was to be my fate touching you, scorching you slowly to death--and for a fault that was neither of your making nor mine, for which we are in no respect responsible--I'm afraid that is beyond me, Elice. I'd better go at once, before he comes.”

”No.” The girl, too, was on her feet facing him. ”Please don't. You don't really mean what you just said.”

”Don't I? You believe in miracles. I'm human and I'd throttle him if he came while I was here--and came as he came once before!”

”Stop! in pity. If it does happen he'll not be to blame; it will be because he can't help it. You're big and strong and he'll need you as well as me. Wait.”

The man drew back a step, but his great jaw was set immovably.

”You can't realize what you're asking,” he said. ”Remember my conviction is not your conviction. I still believe that two predominate over one and that nature's law comes first. I'll go because it is your decision and final; but I can't change elemental things at command. Don't ask it or expect it, because it is impossible.”

”It's not impossible, though,” desperately. ”Nothing is impossible with you.”

Roberts' great head shook a negative.

”This is. I can't discuss it longer. Good-bye, Elice.”

The girl's brown eyes followed him as, decisively now, he prepared to leave, and in hopeless, abject misery. She spoke one word.