All her physical strength was leaving her; but still, panting and quivering, she met those fiery, searching eyes.
Suddenly she knew that her hold upon him was weaker than a child's.

She made a convulsive effort to renew it, failed, and fell forward against him with a gasping cry.
"Piet!" she whispered, in nerveless entreaty.

"Piet!" He put his arm around her, supporting her; then as he felt her weight upon him he bent and gathered her bodily into his arms.

She sank into them, more nearly fainting than she had ever been in her life; and, straightening himself, he turned rigidly, and bore her into the inner room.
He laid her upon the bed there, but still with shaking, powerless fingers she tried to cling to him.
"Don't leave me! Don't go!" she besought him.
He took her hands and put them from him.

He turned to leave her, but even then she caught his sleeve.
"Piet, I--I want to--to tell you something," she managed to say.
He wheeled round and bent over her.