Come and sit by me, and talk to me," she pleaded, holding out her hand.

"I need all your strength." As she spoke the tears started to her eyes and her voice sank almost to a whisper.
The doctor lifted his head from his palm and walked quickly toward her.
The suffering in her voice had robbed him of all resentment.
"Forgive me, I did not mean it.

Tell me," he said, in a sudden burst of tenderness--all feeling about himself had dropped away--"why must you go so soon?
Why not wait until spring ?" He had taken his seat beside her now and sat looking into her eyes.
"Lucy wants to go at once," she replied, in a tone as if the matter did not admit of any discussion.
"Yes, I know.

That's just like her.

What she wants she can never wait a minute for, but she certainly would sacrifice some pleasure of her own to please you.