But she held him fast.
"Jeff--Jeff, this is madness! Listen to me! You must listen! Hugh and I are friends, and we shall never be anything more.

Jeff, let me be with you! Teach me to love you! You can if you will.

Don't--don't ruin both our lives!" She was pleading with him passionately, still holding him back.

And, as she pleaded, she reached up her arms and slowly clasped his neck.
"Oh, Jeff, be good to me--be good to me just this once!" she prayed.
"I've made such a hideous mistake, but don't punish me like this! I swear if you go, I shall go too! There'll be nothing left to live for.
Jeff--Jeff, if you really love me, spare me this!" The broken entreaty went into agonized sobbing, yet she kept her face upraised to his.

Instinctively she knew that in that eleventh hour she must offer all she had.
Several moments throbbed away.