? ? ? ? 'And a mother?'
? ? ? ? 'Yes.'
? ? ? ? 'She loves you?'
? ? ? ? 'Yes.' Her replies were whispers.
? ? ? ? And a brother?- no matter, he is a man. But a sister?'
? ? ? ? Her head drooped a quavering 'Yes.'
? ? ? ? 'Younger? Very much?'
? ? ? ? 'Seven years.'
? ? ? ? 'And you have thought well about this matter? About them? About your mother? And your sister? She stands on the threshold of her woman's life, and this wildness of yours may mean much to her. Could you go before her, look upon her fresh young face, hold her hand in yours, or touch your cheek to hers?'
? ? ? ? To his words, her brain formed vivid images, till she cried out, 'Don't! don't!' and shrank away as do the wolf-dogs from the lash.
? ? ? ? 'But you must face all this; and better it is to do it now.'
? ? ? ? In his eyes, which she could not see, there was a great compassion, but his face, tense and quivering, showed no relenting. She raised her head from the table, forced back the tears, struggled for control.
? ? ? ? 'I shall go away.
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