"And so," she said, presently, breaking the silence, "it comes to

good-bye."

For half a minute he did not answer. Then he gathered his resolution.

"There is one thing I MUST say."

Well?" she said, surprised and abruptly forgetting the recent argument.

I ask no return. But--"

Then he stopped. "I won't say it. It's no good. It would be rot from

me--now. I wasn't going to say anything. Good-bye."

She looked at him with a startled expression in her eyes. "No," she

said. "But don't forget you are going to work. Remember, brother Chris,

you are my friend. You will work. You are not a very strong man, you

know, now--you will forgive me--nor do you know all you should. But what

will you be in six years' time?"

He stared hard in front of him still, and the lines about his weak mouth

seemed to strengthen. He knew she understood what he could not say.

"I'll work," he said, concisely. They stood side by side for a moment.

Then he said, with a motion of his head, "I won't come back to THEM. Do

you mind? Going back alone?"

She took ten seconds to think. "No." she said, and held out her hand,

256

The Wheels of Chance