Yet had the crisis come quickly he might have met it.

But he had to wait, and to wait with that howling of wild beasts in his ears; and for this he was not prepared.

A woman might be content to die after this fashion; but a man?
His colour went and came, his eyes began to rove hither and thither.

Was it even now too late to escape?
Too late to avoid the consequences of the girl's silly persistence?
Too late to--?
Her eyes were closed, she hung half lifeless on his arm.

She would not know, she need not know until afterwards.