r, it's no good," he said. "Let him
go!"

"But, Burke--" she cried. "Oh, Burke----"

"I know," he made answer, still soothing her. "But it can't be
done--anyhow at present. You'll drive him away if you attempt it.
I know. I've done it. Leave him alone till the devil has gone out
of him! He'll come back then--and be decent--for a time."

His meaning was unmistakable. The force of what he said drove in
upon her irresistibly. She burst into tears, hiding her face
against his shoulder in her distress.

"But how dreadful! Oh, how dreadful! He is killing himself. I
think--the Guy--I knew--is dead already."

"No, he isn't," Burke said, and he held her with sudden closeness
as he said it. "He isn't--and that's the hell of it. But you
can't save him. No one can."

She lifted her face sharply. There was something intolerable in
the words. With the tears upon her cheeks she challenged them.

"He can be saved! He must be saved! I'll do it somehow--somehow!"

"You may try," Burke said, as he suffered her to release herself.
"You won't succeed."

She forced a difficult smile with quivering lips. "You don't know
me. Where there's a will, there's a way. And I shall find it
somehow."

He looked grim for an instant, then smiled an answering smile.
"Don't perish in the attempt!" he said. "That do-or-die look of
yours is rather ominous. Don't forget you're my partner! I can't
spare you, you know."

She uttered a shaky laugh. "Of course you can't. Blue Hill Farm
would go to pieces without me, wouldn't it? I've often thought I'm
quite indispensable."

"You are to me," said Burke briefly; and ere the quick colour had
sprung to her face, he also had gone his way.

CHAPTER VIII

THE INTERRUPTION

Sylvia meant to ride round to Guy's hut in search of him that
evening, but when the time came something held her back.

Burke's words, "You'll drive him away," recurred to her again and
again, and with them came a dread of intruding that finally
prevailed against her original intention. He must not think for a
moment that she desired to spy upon him, even though that dreadful
craving in his eyes haunted her perpetually, urging her to action.
It seemed inevitable that for a time at least he must fight his
devil alone, and with all her strength she prayed that he might
overcome.

In the end she rode out with Burke, covering a considerable
distance, and returning tired in body but refreshed in min