Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 1.djvu/80

66 being—she would prefer that the child should die."

Tony Bream, musing, shook his head with dark decision. "Well, I would prefer that they neither of them should!"

"The simplest thing, then, is to give her your word."

"My 'word' isn't enough," Tony said: "she wants mystic rites and spells! The simplest thing, moreover, was exactly what I desired to do. My objection to the performance she demands was that this was just what it seemed to me not to be."

"Try it," said Rose, smiling.

"To bring her round?"

"Before the Doctor returns. When he comes, you know, he won't let you go back to her."

"Then I'll go now," said Tony, already at the door. Rose had risen from the sofa. "Be very brief—but be very strong."

"I'll swear by all the gods—that or any other nonsense." Rose stood there opposite to him with a fine, rich urgency which operated as a detention. "I see you're right," he declared. "You always