He stood for a second, his arms at full reach, then: "My God, Alice, I cannot, cannot leave you!" he cried, his voice again breaking huskily.
She made a little movement, as if to take hold of his hands: but in an instant she stepped back a pace and said: "Don't fear about me.

I can take care of myself.

I'm all right.

You'd better return to the fort as quickly as you can.

It is your country, your flag, not me, that you must think of now." She folded her arms and stood boldly erect.
Never before, in all his life, had he felt such a rebuke.