Emmy began to cry. She had passed most of the morning in tears. She felt
doubly guilty now that she had accepted the sacrifice of his life; an awful
sense of loneliness also overwhelmed her.

"I didn't know that you hated me like that," she said.

"Good heavens!" he cried in horror. "I don't hate you. I only thought you
had no further use for me."

"And I'm to be left alone in the street?"

"I'll drive you anywhere you like," said he.

"And then get rid of me as soon as possible? Oh! I know what you must be
feeling."

Septimus put his hand under her arm, and led her away, in great distress.

"I thought you wouldn't be able to bear the sight of me."

"Oh, don't be silly!" said Emmy.

Her adjuration was on a higher plane of sentiment than expression. It
comforted Septimus.

"What would you like me to do?"

"Anything except leave me to myself--at any rate for the present. Don't
you see, I've only you in the world to look to."