soon be better; I'm learning to feel my way about. I'll be able to
help you. I should think you'd be glad to have a girl in the
house--another woman. I'm sorry to be a nuisance, really I am. I'd
go if I could."

The lonely, deep silence, always waiting to fall upon them, shut down
with suddenness at the end of her sweet, tearful quaver of appeal.
For minutes no one spoke. Then Pete followed Bella out of the room.
She had not answered Sylvie's beseeching questions, but had only stood
with lowered head, her face working, her hands twisting her dress.
She had run out just as her face cramped as though for tears.

When the other two had gone, Hugh captured both of Sylvie's hands
in his. "You don't mean that, do you?" he asked brokenly. "You don't
mean you'd go away if you could, Sylvie!"

At Hugh's voice she started and the color rushed into her cheeks.
"If I make you quarrel, if I'm a nuisance, if Pete and Bella hate
me so!"

"But I"--he said--"I love you." He drew her head--she was sitting
in her chair again--against his side. "No, don't smile at me like
that; I don't mean the sort of love you think. I love you terribly.
Can't you feel how I love you? Listen, close against my heart. Don't
be frightened. There, now you know how I love you!"

He rained kisses on her head resting droopingly against him.

"How can a man like you love _me_?" she asked with wistful
uncertainty.