He must choose between bringing an end to this charming comradeship of theirs, or else fight back all show of love for her, keep it down and under hand, and that at a time when every nerve of him quivered like a smitten harp-string.

It was not in him or in his temperament to love her calmly, quietly, or at a distance; he wanted the touch of her hand, the touch of her cool, smooth cheek, the delicious aroma of her breath in his nostrils her lips against his, her hair and all its fragrance in his face.
"Condy, what's the matter ?" Blix was looking at him with an expression of no little concern.

"What are you frowning so about, and clinching your fists?
And you're pale, too.

What's gone wrong ?" He shot a glance at her, and bestirred himself sharply.
"Isn't this a jolly little corner ?" he said.

"Blix, how long is it before you go ?" "Six weeks from to-morrow." "And you're going to be gone four years--four years! Maybe you never will come back.