Piers moved to Olga's side, smiled at her
reassuringly, tried to take her hand; but, with a frightened glance
towards the door, she shrank away.
Two minutes of dead silence; then Otway spoke just above his breath.
"Gone! Didn't you hear the footstep on the stairs?"
Had she just escaped some serious peril, Olga could not have worn a
more agitated look. Her hand resisted Otway's approach; she would
not seat herself, but moved nervously hither and thither, her eyes
constantly turning to the door. It was in vain that Piers laughed at
the incident, asking what it could possibly matter to them that some
person had wished to see Miss Bonnicastle, and had gone away
thinking no one was within; Olga made a show of assenting, she
smiled and pretended to recover herself, but was still tremulous and
unable to converse.
He took her hands, held them firmly, compelled her to meet his look.
"Let us have an end of this, Olga! Your life is unhappy--let me
help you to forget. And help _me_! I want your love. Come to me--
we can help each other--put an end to this accursed loneliness,
this longing and raging that eats one's heart away!"
She suffered him to hold her close--her head bent back, the eyes
half veiled by their lids.
"Give me one day--to think----"
"Not one hour, not one minute! Now!"
"Because you are stronger than I am, that doesn't make me really
yours.
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