"Miss Elliot, if it's going to make you miserable, you had better send me away.

I'll go--if it's for that." He would have released her hand, but it tightened very suddenly upon his.

"No, don't go--don't go!" she said.
"But you're crying," muttered Jeff uneasily.
She gave a big gulp and raised her head.

The tears were running down her cheeks, but she smiled at him bravely notwithstanding.

"I believe I should cry--much more--if you were to go now," she told him, with a quaint effort at humour.
Jeff Ironside put a strong grip upon himself.