Page:The Mystery of Central Park.djvu/71

Rh a good girl, don't cry," making a ludicrous attempt to console her. "I did it before I thought; if I had known how much you would have been grieved, I—I assure you, upon my honor, I wouldn't have done it. I—I haven't much to live for, either, still when I saw what you intended to do—it shocked me that you should be so desperate. Now that it's all over I wouldn't cry any more. I'd laugh, as if it were a joke, you know. I'd say the fates had saved me for some treat they had reserved for me. There, that's better, don't cry, you are not hurt—not even wet."

The girl broke into a nervous, hysterical laugh, in which the sobs struggled for mastery. Dick, much relieved, added a laugh that sounded rather hollow and mirthless.

"I c-can't help it," said she, haltingly and endeavoring to stop her sobs. "It seems so unreal to be still living when I wanted to be dead. I—I thought it all over, and it seemed