But he drew himself away from her and was silent; he could not make lying protestations of not understanding her, so there only remained one course for him to follow--he must go, and the brutality of such action made him fierce with pain. She burst into passionate sobs and would have fallen to the ground. He raised her in his arms and laid her on the sofa near, and then fear seized him. What if this excitement and emotion should make her really ill--? He knelt down beside her and stroked her hair. But she only sobbed the more. "How hideously cruel are men. Why can't you tell me what I ask you? You dare not even pretend that you do not understand!" He knew that his silence was an admission, he was torn with distress. "Darling," he cried at last in torment, "for God's sake, let me go." "Denzil--" and then her tears stopped suddenly, and the great drops glistened on her white cheeks. Weeping had not disfigured her--she looked but as a suffering child. "Denzil--if you knew everything, you could not possibly leave me--you don't know what has happened--But you must, you will have to since--soon--" He bowed his head and placed her two hands over his face with a despairing movement. "Hush--I implore you--say nothing. I do know, but I love you--I must go." At that she gave a glad cry and drew him close to her. "You shall not now! I do not care for conventions any more, or for laws, or for anything! I am a savage--you are mine! John must know that you are mine! The family is all that matters to him, I am only an instrument, a medium for its continuance--but Denzil, you and I are young and loving and living. It is you I desire, and now I know that I belong to you. You are the man and I am the woman--and the child will be our child!" Her spirit had arisen at last and broken all chains. She was transfigured, transformed, translated. No one knowing the gentle Amaryllis could have recognised her in this fierce, primitive creature claiming her mate! Furious, answering passion surged through Denzil; it was the supreme moment when all artificial restrictions of civilisation were swept away. Nature had come to her own. All her forces were working for these two of her children brought near by a turn of fate. He strained her in his arms wildly--he kissed her lips, and ears, and eyes. "Mine, mine," he cried, and then "Sweetheart!" And for some seconds which seemed an eternity of bliss they forgot all but the joy of love. But presently reality fell upon Denzil and he almost groaned. "I must leave you, precious dear one--even so--I gave my word of honour to John that I would never take advantage of the situation. Fate has done this thing by bringing us together; it has overwhelmed us. I do not feel that we are greatly to blame, but that does not release me from my promise. It is all a frightful price that we must pay for pride in the Family. Darling, help me to have courage to go."