you see, he is quite--intact," said I. "I must ask that you and he
leave the place at once." And I went rapidly along the path toward the
kennels.

An exclamation from Langdon forced me to turn in spite of myself. He was
half-kneeling, was holding her in his arms. At that sight, the savage in
me shook himself free. I dashed toward them with I knew not what curses
bursting from me. Langdon, intent upon her, did not realize until I sent
him reeling backward to the earth and snatched her up. Her white face, her
closed eyes, her limp form made my fury instantly collapse. In my confusion
I thought that she was dead. I laid her gently on the grass and supported
her head, so small, so gloriously crowned, the face so still and sweet and
white, like the stainless entrance to a stainless shrine. How that horrible
fear changed my whole way of looking at her, at him, at her and him, at
everything!

Her eyelids were quivering--her eyes were opening--her bosom was rising and
falling slowly as she drew long, uncertain breaths. She shuddered, sat up,
started up. "Go! go!" she cried. "Bring him back! Bring him back! Bring
him--"

There she recognized me. "Oh," she said, and gave a great sigh of relief.
She leaned against a tree and looked at Langdon. "You are still here? Then
tell him."

Langdon gazed sullenly at the ground. "I can't," he answered. "I don't
believe it. Besides--he has given you to me. Let us go. Let me take you to
the Vivians." He threw out his arms in a wild, passionate gesture; he was
utterly unlike himself. His emotion burst through and shattered pose and
cynicism and hard crust of selfishness like the exploding powder bursting
the shell. "I can't give you up, Anita!" he exclaimed in a tone of utter
desperation. "I can't! I can't!"

But her gaze was all this time steadily on me, as if she feared I would go,
should she look away. "I will tell you myself," she said rapidly, to me.
"We--uncle Howard and I--read in the papers how they had all turned against
you, and he brought me over here. He has been telegraphing for you. This
morning he went to town to search for you. About an hour ago Langdon came.
I refused to see him, as I have ever since the time I told you about at
Alva's. He persisted, until at last I had the servant request him to leave
the house."

"But _now_ there's no longer any reason for your staying, Anita," he
pleaded. "He has said you are free. Why stay when _you_ would really
no more be here th