"
"And now that he is saved," Burke said, a faint ring of irony in
his voice, "isn't it almost time to begin to consider--other needs?
Do you know you are looking very ill?"
He asked the question abruptly, so abruptly that she started. Her
nerves were on edge that day.
"Am I? No, I didn't know. It isn't serious anyway. Please don't
bother about that!"
He smiled faintly. "I've got to bother. If you don't improve very
quickly, I shall take you to Brennerstadt to see a decent doctor
there."
"Oh, don't be absurd!" she said, with quick annoyance. "I'm not
going to do anything so silly."
He put his hand on her arm. "Sylvia, I've got something to say to
you," he said.
She made a slight movement as if his touch were unwelcome. "Well?
What is it?" she said.
"Only this." He spoke very steadily, but while he spoke his hand
closed upon her. You've gone your own way so far, and it hasn't
been specially good for you. That's why I'm going to pull you up
now, and make you go mine."
"Make me!" Her eyes flashed sudden fire upon him. She was
overwrought and weary, and he had taken her by surprise, or she
would have dealt with the situation--and with him--far otherwise.
"Make me!" she repeated, and in second, almost before she knew it,
she was up in arms, facing him with open rebellion. "I'll defy you
to do that!" she said.
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