Part 49 (2/2)

”Yes.” Breathlessly she answered him; the words seemed to leap from her of their own accord, and surely it was hardly of her own volition that she followed and held his arm, detaining him. ”Guy!

You know we care. Burke cares. I care. Guy, please, dear, please! It's such a pity. Oh, it's such a pity! Won't you--can't you--fight against it? Won't you even--try? I know you could conquer, if only--if only you would try!” Her eyes were raised to his. She besought him with all the strength of her being. She clung to him as if she would hold him back by sheer physical force from the abyss at his feet. ”Oh, Guy, it is worth while!” she pleaded. ”Indeed--indeed it is worth while--whatever it costs.

Guy,--I beseech--I implore you----”

She broke off, for with a lightning movement he had taken her face between his hands. ”You can make it worth while,” he said. ”I will do it--for you.”

He held her pa.s.sionately close for an instant, but he did not kiss her. She saw the impulse to do so in his eyes, and she saw him beat it fiercely back. That was the only comfort that remained to her when the next moment he sprang away and went so swiftly from her that he was lost to sight almost before she knew that he was gone.

CHAPTER VIII

THE SUMMONS

When Kelly awoke that morning, it was some time later, and Burke was entering his hut with a steaming cup of cocoa. The Irishman stretched his large bulk and laughed up at his friend.

”Faith, it's the good host that ye are! I've slept like a top, my son, and never an evil dream. How's the lad this morning? And how's the land?”

”The land's all right so far,” Burke said. ”I'm just off to help them bring in the animals. The northern dam has failed.”

Kelly leaped from his bed. ”I'll come. That's just the job for me and St. Peter. Don't bring the missis along though! It's too much for her.”

”I know that,” Burke said shortly. ”I've told her so. She is to take it easy for a bit. The climate is affecting her.”

Kelly looked at him with his kindly, curious eyes. ”Can't you get things fixed up here and bring her along to Brennerstadt for the races and the diamond gamble? It would do you both good to have a change.”

Burke shook his head, ”I doubt if she would care for it. And young Guy would want to come too. If he did, he would soon get up to mischief again. He has gone back to his hut this morning, cleared out early. I hope he is to be trusted to behave himself.”

”Oh, leave the boy alone!” said Kelly. ”He's got some decent feelings of his own, and it doesn't do to mother him too much.

Give him his head for a bit! He's far less likely to bolt.”

Burke shrugged his shoulders. ”I can't hold him if he means to go, I quite admit. But I haven't much faith in his keeping on the straight, and that's a fact. I don't like his going back to the hut, and I'd have prevented it if I'd known. But I slept in the sitting-room last night, and I was dead beat. He cleared out early.”

”Didn't anyone see him go?” queried Kelly keenly.

”Yes. My wife.” Again Burke's tone was curt, repressive. ”She couldn't stop him.”

”She made him hold hard with the brandy-bottle last night,” said Kelly. ”I admired her for it. She's got a way with her, Burke.

Sure, the devil himself couldn't have resisted her then.”

Burke's faint smile showed for a moment; he said nothing.

”How you must wors.h.i.+p her!” went on Kelly, with amiable effusion.

”Some fellows have all the luck. Sure, you're never going to let that sweet angel languish here like that poor little Mrs. Merston!

You wouldn't now! Come, you wouldn't!”

But Burke pa.s.sed the matter by. He had pressing affairs on hand, and obviously it was not his intention to discuss his conduct towards his wife even with the worthy Kelly whose blundering goodness so often carried him over difficult ground that few others would have ventured to negotiate.

He left Kelly to dress, and went back to the bungalow where Sylvia was busy with a duster trying to get rid of some of the sand that thickly covered everything. He had scarcely spoken to her that morning except for news Of Guy, but now he drew her aside.

<script>