C. among my friends."
He waited until the last word had dropped from her lips, waited
until the silence had dropped over the last word. Then he faced her
yet once again. This time, there was determination in his eyes,
determination and a great, indomitable love.
"Ethel," he said imperiously; "for God's sake, stop fencing with me,
and have it out. Remember it is now, or never."
The color mounted swiftly across her face, then faded, and even to
her own ears her laugh failed to ring true.
"I am sorry; but I fear it is impossible. Here comes Colonel
Andersen for his dance."
Weldon faced about.
"Colonel Andersen, Miss Dent is longing for an ice," he said, with a
sudden masterful quietness. "May I take a convalescent's privilege
and ask you to bring it to her?" Then he turned back to Ethel.
"Come," he bade her.
"Where?" she protested; but she yielded to his stronger will and
followed him across the floor towards a deserted corner of the room.
"Anywhere, where we can talk for a moment," he answered her, with
the same dominant quietness. Then, while they halted beside an open
window, he bent forward and laid his hand upon hers, as it rested
upon the sill.
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