I held her as in a vise.
And the action, the feel of her, her suddenly uttered cry wrought against all pretense, hurt me as my brutality hurt her, and then I spoke what was hard, passionate truth.
"Girl, you're playing with fire!" I cried out hoarsely.

"I love you--love you as I'd want my sister loved.

I asked you to marry me.

That was proof, if it was foolish.

Even if you were on the square, which you're not, we couldn't ever be anything to each other.