at the last hour, so that no one will ever suspect
where--I don't care how humbly I live when we are abroad. I can have
lodgings somewhere in the same town, or near, and you will come--'

His hair disordered, his eyes wild, quivering throughout with
excitement, he stood as if pondering possibilities.

'Shall I be a burden to you?' she asked in a faint voice. 'Is the
expense more than you--'

'No, no, no! How can you think of such a thing? But it would be so much
better if you could wait here until I--Oh, what a wretched thing to
have to seem so cowardly to you! But the difficulties are so great,
darling. I shall be a perfect stranger in Bordeaux. I don't even speak
the language at all well. When I reach there I shall be met at the
station by one of our people, and--just think, how could we manage? You
know, if it were discovered that I had run away with you, it would
damage my position terribly. I can't say what might happen. My darling,
we shall have to be very careful. In a few weeks it might all be
managed very easily. I would write to you to some address, and as soon
as ever I had made arrangements--'

Monica broke down. The unmanliness of his tone was so dreadful a
disillusion. She had expected something so entirely different--swift,
virile passion, eagerness even to anticipate her desire of flight, a
strength, a courage to which she could abandon herself, body and soul.
She broke down utterly, and wept with her hands upon her face.

Bevis, in sympathetic distraction, threw himself on his knees before,
clutching at her waist.

'Don't, don't!' he wailed. 'I can't bear that! I will do as you wish,
Monica. Tell me some place where I can write to you. Don't cry,
darling--don't--'

She went to the couch again, and rested her face against the back,
sobbing. For a time they exchanged mere incoherences. Then passion
seized upon both, and they clung together, mute, motionless.

'To-morrow I shall leave him,' whispered Monica, when at length their
eyes met. 'He will be away in the morning, and I can take what I need.
Tell me where I shall go to, dear--to wait until you are ready. No one
will ever suspect that we have gone together. He knows I am miserable
with him; he will believe that I have found some way of supporting
myself in London. Where shall I live till Tuesday?'

Bevis scarcely listened to her words. The temptation of the natural
man, basely selfish, was strengthening its hold upon him.

'Do you love m