"Tessibel!... Tess, darling!" he cried, sharply. Lifting her up, he carried her into the room. She clung to him, crying, her confusion calmed by his caresses. He placed her in a chair and sat down beside her. Suddenly, she sat back in her seat, roused from her revery by mocking memories of her wrongs. "Couldn't ye let me alone?" she breathed hoarsely, covering her face with her hands. "Ye might a let me be." "I had to come, dear," Frederick told her. "I want you to do something for both our sakes.... Oh, Tess, what terrible days have passed since I saw you last!" After a short pause, she dropped both hands and glanced up at him. Then knitting her fingers together, she pressed them hard until they looked like the veined stems of a pale flower. He had come to make another demand of her--and she was so tired--so sick! "I want you to make me a promise, Tessibel," urged Frederick. "I said as how I'd help ye all I could," murmured Tess. "Ye're wantin' me to do somethin' awful hard, huh?" Her soul in her eyes, she looked at him, but his gaze was on the gloves he was twisting back and forth between his fingers. "Ain't ye goin' to tell me?" groaned Tess. She dropped her chin into her hands with a touching gesture of pathos. Frederick bent nearer. "Tess, Mrs. Waldstricker sent me with a message--and you've got to do what I want you to." His strangely persistent reiteration that she should do his will served only to produce another, "Why don't ye tell me, then?" from Tess. "You must do something to save yourself!" he cried. To save herself? What did he mean by saving herself? What did any one intend to do? She'd stayed so alone no one could intrude upon her now. And then, there was Andy, poor forlorn little man! "Is anyone goin' to hurt me?" she faltered, faint and frightened. "Yes, dearest, yes, and you must--" He was on his feet and Tess struggled up, too. "What've I got to do?" she breathed miserably. "Tess," he groaned, "can't you understand how much I love you; that I would save you if I could?" With uplifted hand, he tried to raise her face to his. "Don't!" she cried, pushing him away. "_Tell_ me what Mrs. Waldstricker said!" "You've got to do it, dear," urged Frederick, "or they'll take you away." "What do ye mean by takin' me away?" she implored, moving a frightened step backward. "Who's goin' to try to take me any place?" "Why--why--Mrs. Waldstricker says--" He paused so long Tess could not bear the suspense. "Oh, tell me!" she gasped. "Can't ye see ye air killin' me?" Frederick began again. "Mr. Ebenezer Waldstricker--" Tess swayed on her feet. "What air he goin' to do?" she panted. Had her enemy discovered she was protecting Andy? "He's going to take you to a--a--" stammered Frederick. Tessibel grew faint and dizzy. She uttered a sharp scream. "A reform school!" she cried. "Yes."