'Don't you care for me any more?' she whispered. He looked at her, but he did not answer. She turned away, and sinking into a chair, began to cry. 'Don't, Lucy,' he said, his voice breaking suddenly. 'Don't make it harder.' 'Oh, Alec, Alec, don't you see how much I love you.' He leaned over her and gently stroked her hair. 'Be brave, darling,' he whispered. She looked up passionately, seizing both his hands. 'I can't live without you. I've suffered too much. If you cared for me at all, you'd stay.' 'Though I love you with all my soul, I can't do otherwise now than go.' 'Then take me with you,' she cried eagerly. 'Let me come too.' 'You!' 'You don't know what I can do. With you to help me I can be very brave. Let me come, Alec.' 'It's impossible. You don't know what you ask.' 'Then let me wait for you. Let me wait till you come back.' 'And if I never come back?' 'I will wait for you still.' He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, as though he were striving to see into the depths of her soul. She felt very weak. She could scarcely see him through her tears, but she tried to smile. Then without a word he slipped his arms around her. Sobbing in the ecstasy of her happiness, she let her head fall on his shoulder. 'You will have the courage to wait?' he said. 'I know you love me, and I trust you.' 'Then have no fear; I will come back. My journey was only dangerous because I wanted to die. I want to live now, and I shall live.' 'Oh, Alec, Alec, I'm so glad you love me.' Outside in the street the bells of the motor 'buses tinkled noisily, and there was an incessant roar of the traffic that rumbled heavily over the wooden pavements. There was a clatter of horses' hoofs, and the blowing of horns; the electric broughams whizzed past with an odd, metallic whirr. THE END