"You are very brave," he said, almost as if he spoke in spite of
himself. "But--you've got to be sensible too. You won't marry
him?"

She hesitated. "I must see him. I must judge for myself."

He nodded, still frowning. "Very well,--if you must. But you
won't marry him as a way out of your difficulties? You've got to
promise me that."

"Why?" she said.

He answered her with that sudden force which before had startled
her. "Because I can't stand by and see purity joined to
corruption. Some women will sacrifice anything for sentiment. You
wouldn't do anything so damn' foolish as that."

"No," said Sylvia.

"Then it's a promise?" he said.

She held out her hand to him with her brave little smile. "I
promise you I won't do anything damn' foolish for the sake
of--sentiment. Will that do?"

He gripped her hand for a moment. "Yes. I think it will," he said.

"And thank you for being so good to me," she added.