"Dear," she said.

"If I deliberately do what I think is right--against your wishes--what will you do ?" "Do ?" The laughed bitterly.

"What can I do?
I'm tied by the leg here--I can't go after you.

I've nothing to pull you out of a scrape with if you get in one.

I couldn't do anything but--stand it." "And if I go ahead, and do what you don't like--and make you--suffer--would you--would you rather be free ?" Her voice was very low and shaken, but he heard her well enough.
"Free of you?
Free of _you_ ?" He caught her and held her and kissed her over and over.
"You are mine!" he said.