"You'll just sit with me a minute," he said calmly. "Be sensible,
Helena. I want to speak to you about something."

But she did not hear him; she was listening for David's voice. A
little whimpering cry reached her, and the tears sprung to her eyes.
"Lloyd! I must. He is crying."

"Let him cry."

"He's takin' on so, please come up, ma'am," came Sarah's entreating
voice from over the banisters in the upper hall.

"Oh, Lloyd, I must!" She turned; but he, springing up, caught her
wrist and pulled her to him.

"Don't be a fool."

"Let me go! Oh, how cruel you are!" She tried to wrench her wrist from
his grasp. "I hate you!"

"Hate me, do you?" He laughed, and catching her in his arms, kissed
her again and again. Then he put his hands in his pockets and stepped
back, leaving her free. "Will you go?"

She stood, vibrating between surprised affection and anguished longing
for the child. "Lloyd!" she said faintly; she put her hands over her
face, and came towards him slowly, shivering a little, and murmuring
"_Lloyd!_" Then, with a sudden gasp, she turned and fled up-stairs.
"David--I am coming--"