"I can't eat
anything more."
He set down the tray and looked at her. "Why did you get up?" he
said.
Her face was flushed. There was unrest in every line of her. "I
had to get up," she said feverishly. "I can't rest here. It is so
noisy. I want to get out of this horrible place. I can't breathe
here. Besides--besides----"
"Sit down!" said Burke.
"Oh, don't make me eat anything!" she pleaded. "I really can't. I
am sorry, but really----"
"Sit down!" he said again, and laid a steady hand upon her.
She yielded with obvious reluctance, avoiding his eyes. "I am
quite all right," she said. "Don't bully me, partner!"
Her voice quivered suddenly, and she put her hand to her throat.
Burke was pouring milk into a cap. She watched him, fighting with
herself.
"Now," he said, "you can drink this anyway. It's what you're
needing." He gave her the cup, and she took it from him without a
word. He turned away, and stood at the window, waiting.
At the end of a full minute, he spoke. "Has it gone?"
"Yes," she said.
He turned back and looked at her. She met his eyes with an effort.
"I am quite all right," she said again.
"Ready to start back?" he said.
She leaned forward in her chair, her hands clasped very tightly in
front of her. "To-day?" she said in a low voice.
"I thought you wanted to get away," said Burke.
Pages:
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346