Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/233

 “None, it would seem.”

“Yet Mirrikh promised,” he murmured, “and I shall trust him. Have no fear, George. We shall escape from this peril. We shall see New York again.”

“God grant it! But let me say a word in behalf of Walla, Maurice. Though humble enough and of another race than ours, the poor girl loves you. Be kind to her, Maurice. If you could have seen the devotion with which she watched over you; if”

“Say no more! ” he interrupted. “I shall be kind, but if, as you say, she loves me, then she must learn to unlove. Of course you understand”

“Of course, of course; but you wounded her feelings terribly.”

“Cannot you mend matters? I thought you were mad about the girl yourself.”

I shook my head.

“I have passed out of that state long ago, Maurice. I did not know myself.”

“No; but I know you, George; I know you better now than ever before. You need not explain further. The gas has done its work for you as well as for me.”

“It has! God knows it has.”

I thought then of that face and its heavenly beauty. It seemed as if a single word was whispered in my ear.

“Hope!”

I heard it! I positively declare I heard it. The voice was as real as was Maurice’s which followed, asking for something to eat.

And thus in sadness and mystery began the night of Maurice’s return; a night of horrors which will never cease to be present in my waking moments, or to disturb my dreams.

“I will go and fetch some rice,” said the Doctor. “Come Wylde, I have a word to say.”

I glanced at Maurice, but he made no objection and with the Doctor’s hand upon my arm I walked into the shadows. It was not until we were out of hearing that he spoke.

“I want you to prepare yourself for the worst,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that Maurice can’t live. It is useless for me to kick against the pricks any longer. I own that all this is wonderful, most mysterious; but there is something seriously