But Roderick's expectations were the oddest! Such as they were, Rowland asked himself why he should n't make a bargain with them.

"You desire me to go with you ?" he asked.
"If you don't go, I won't--that 's all! How in the world shall I get through the summer without you ?" "How will you get through it with me?
That 's the question." "I don't pretend to say; the future is a dead blank.

But without you it 's not a blank--it 's certain damnation!" "Mercy, mercy!" murmured Mrs.Hudson.
Rowland made an effort to stand firm, and for a moment succeeded.

"If I go with you, will you try to work ?" Roderick, up to this moment, had been looking as unperturbed as if the deep agitation of the day before were a thing of the remote past.

But at these words his face changed formidably; he flushed and scowled, and all his passion returned.