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The Living Link by James De Mille
page 251 of 531 (47%)
thousand fears about you. How can you endure this life? And yet I might
do something to save you from it. My own life is at your disposal. Do
you wish to be free now? Will you have that gate opened, and fly?"

Edith said not a word. She was filled with extreme agitation. Fly! Did
that mean to fly with him? to escape with a lover? and then--what?

"If you wish to escape now, at this moment, Miss Dalton, all that you
have to do is to go out with me. I am armed. If there is any resistance,
I can force a way through. The first man that dares to bar the way
dies. As for me, if I fall, I shall ask nothing more."

And saying this, Dudleigh looked at Edith inquiringly.

But Edith faltered. Her horror of bloodshed was great. Was her
situation so desperate that she could sacrifice a human life to gain her
freedom? Perhaps that life might be Dudleigh's. Could she risk the life
of the man who had done so much for her? She could not. No, after all,
she shrank from gaining her freedom at such a risk.

Then, again, if she were free, where could she go? She knew now how
utterly forlorn she was. Miss Plympton was gone, and Sir Lionel was
gone. There were none left. She could not live without money, and all
her vast property was under the control of another. Dudleigh had said
nothing about love either: and she was grateful for his delicacy. Did
he intend in his deep devotion to support her himself, or what did he
intend?

"You hesitate, Miss Dalton," said he at last. "Have you your old fear
about bloodshed?"
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