Her cry of agony cut across his last word like the
severing of a taut string. She leapt to her feet,
in that^ moment of anguish supremely forgetful of
self.
** Rufus i" she cried, and wildly gripped his arm.
** You've never — left him — to be — killed!"

She felt his muscles harden in grim resistance to
her grasp. She saw that his averted face was set
like a stone mask.
**It's none of my business," he said, speaking
through rigid lips.
She turned from him with a gasp of horror and



The Boon 79

sprang for the door. But in an instant he wheeled,
thrust out a great arm, and caught her. His
fingers closed upon her bare shoulder.
' ' Columbine ! " he said.
She resisted him frantically, bending now this
way, now that. But he held her in spite of it, held
her, and slowly brought her nearer to him.
"Stand still!" he said.
His voice came upon her like a blow. She
flinched at the sound of it — ^flinched and obeyed.
**Let me go!" she gasped out. **He — ^may be
drowning — ^at this moment!"

' * Let him drown ! ' ' said Ruf us.
She lifted her tortured face in frenzied protest,
but it died upon her lips. For in that moment she
met his eyes, and the blazing blue of them made
her feel as though spirit had been poured upon her
flame, consuming her. Words failed her utterly.
She stood palpitating in his hold, not breathing— a
wild thing trapped.
