"Why, yes, Hermy I--I try t' be," he answered uneasily; "but I don't know what you mean." "You're not a thief, are you? You're not a burglar? You never broke into any one's house. I know you didn't, but--tell me you didn't--tell me you didn't!" "No--no, o' course not," stammered Spike and, averting his head, tried to draw away, but she clung to him all the closer. "Boy--boy dear," she whispered breathlessly, "oh, boy, look at me!" But seeing he kept his face still turned from her, she set a hand to his cheek and very gently forced him to meet her look. For a long moment she gazed thus--saw how his eyes quailed, saw how his cheek blanched, and as he cowered away, she rose slowly to her feet, and into her look came a growing horror; beholding which Spike covered his face and shrank away from her. "Oh, boy--" her voice had sunk to a whisper now, "oh, boy--say you didn't!" "Hermy--I--can't--" "Can't?" "It's--it's all--true. Yes, I did! Oh, Hermy, forgive me." "Tell me!" "Oh, forgive me, Hermy, forgive me!" he cried, reaching out and trying to catch her hand. "Yes, I'll tell ye. I--I got in--through th' winder, an' Geoff caught me. But he let me go again--he said he'd never tell nobody if--ah, don't look at me like that!" "If--what?" "If I'd bring him back here with me--Hermy, don't! Your eyes hurt me--don't look at me that way." "So it--is--all--true!" "Oh, forgive me, forgive me!" he pleaded, throwing himself on his knees before her and writhing in the anguish of remorse. "They doped me, Hermy, I--didn't know what I was doin'--they didn't give me no time t' think. Oh, forgive me, Hermy; Geoff forgave me, an' you must--oh, God, you must, Hermy!" Again he sought to reach her hand, but now it was she who shrank away. "I loved you so--I--loved--you so!" she said dully. "Hermy," he cried, catching hold of her dress, "forgive me--just this once, for God's sake! I ain't got nobody in the world but you--forgive me!" And now his pleading was broken by fierce sobs, and he sought to hide his tear-stained face in the folds of her dress, but she drew it quickly from him, shrinking away almost as if she feared him. "A thief!" she whispered, "oh, God--my brother a thief! I don't seem--able to--think. Go away--go away, I--must be--alone!" "Hermy, dear, I swear--oh, I swear I'll--" "Go away!" "Oh, Hermy, I didn't think you'd ever--turn away--from me." "Go away!" "Oh, Hermy--won't you listen?" "I can't! Not now. Go away." Sobbing, the boy got to his feet, and taking his hat, crossed slow-footed to the door; there he paused to look back at her, but her staring eyes gazed through him and, turning hopelessly away, he brushed his sleeve across his cheek and, treading slow and heavily along the passage, was gone.