CHAPTER VIII

The sudden relaxation of her taut muscles and her collapse upon his shoulder nearly felled him. It was hard to lift her, and he made a gawky business of it before he could carry her to the bed and stretch her on it. He drew the coverlet over her and brushed her hair from her face and back from her snowy brow, and spread it on the pillow as he had found it when he first entered the room. Then he dropped into his chair, gulping for breath, sick with emotion and fatigue. He wanted to faint. He understood why she took …