Part 63 (2/2)
”You are a little wild--sometimes, dear, just a little--but you are good--and honourable, aren't you?”
”Why, yes, Hermy I--I try t' be,” he answered uneasily; ”but I don't know what you mean.”
”You're not a thief, are you? You're not a burglar? You never broke into any one's house. I know you didn't, but--tell me you didn't--tell me you didn't!”
”No--no, o' course not,” stammered Spike and, averting his head, tried to draw away, but she clung to him all the closer.
”Boy--boy dear,” she whispered breathlessly, ”oh, boy, look at me!”
But seeing he kept his face still turned from her, she set a hand to his cheek and very gently forced him to meet her look. For a long moment she gazed thus--saw how his eyes quailed, saw how his cheek blanched, and as he cowered away, she rose slowly to her feet, and into her look came a growing horror; beholding which Spike covered his face and shrank away from her.
”Oh, boy--” her voice had sunk to a whisper now, ”oh, boy--say you didn't!”
”Hermy--I--can't--”
”Can't?”
”It's--it's all--true. Yes, I did! Oh, Hermy, forgive me.”
”Tell me!”
”Oh, forgive me, Hermy, forgive me!” he cried, reaching out and trying to catch her hand. ”Yes, I'll tell ye. I--I got in--through th' winder, an' Geoff caught me. But he let me go again--he said he'd never tell n.o.body if--ah, don't look at me like that!”
”If--what?”
”If I'd bring him back here with me--Hermy, don't! Your eyes hurt me--don't look at me that way.”
”So it--is--all--true!”
”Oh, forgive me, forgive me!” he pleaded, throwing himself on his knees before her and writhing in the anguish of remorse. ”They doped me, Hermy, I--didn't know what I was doin'--they didn't give me no time t'
think. Oh, forgive me, Hermy; Geoff forgave me, an' you must--oh, G.o.d, you must, Hermy!” Again he sought to reach her hand, but now it was she who shrank away.
”I loved you so--I--loved--you so!” she said dully.
”Hermy,” he cried, catching hold of her dress, ”forgive me--just this once, for G.o.d's sake! I ain't got n.o.body in the world but you--forgive me!” And now his pleading was broken by fierce sobs, and he sought to hide his tear-stained face in the folds of her dress, but she drew it quickly from him, shrinking away almost as if she feared him.
”A thief!” she whispered, ”oh, G.o.d--my brother a thief! I don't seem--able to--think. Go away--go away, I--must be--alone!”
”Hermy, dear, I swear--oh, I swear I'll--”
”Go away!”
”Oh, Hermy, I didn't think you'd ever--turn away--from me.”
”Go away!”
”Oh, Hermy--won't you listen?”
”I can't! Not now. Go away.”
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