The word seemed to strike him with the force of a blow.

"Innocent," he repeated, "innocent?" becoming paler still as the
full weight of her meaning broke gradually upon him.

"I followed you into town," she whispered, coming closer, and
breathing the words into his ear. "But what I saw you do there
will not prevent me from obeying you if you say: 'Follow me
wherever I go, Amabel; henceforth our lives are one.'"

"My God!"

It was all he said, but it seemed to create a gulf between them.
In the silence that followed, the evil spirit latent beneath her
beauty began to make itself evident even in the smile which no
longer called into view the dimples which belong to guileless
mirth, while upon his face, after the first paralysing effect of
her words had passed, there appeared an expression of manly
resistance that betrayed a virtue which as yet had never appeared
in his selfish and altogether reckless life.

That this was more than a passing impulse he presently made
evident by lifting his hand and pushing her slowly back.

"I do not know what you saw me do," said he; "but whatever it was,
it can make no difference in our relations."

Her whisper, which had been but a breath before, became scarcely
audible.