"You have done all you can here now." She arose to her feet slowly, never looking toward him, never appearing to heed his presence.

He noticed the swelling of her throat as though the effort to breathe choked her, the quick spasmodic heaving of her bosom, and set his teeth, struggling against the strain upon his own nerves.
"You will go with me now ?" She glanced about at him, her eyes dull, unseeing.
"Oh, yes--now," she answered, as if the words were spoken automatically.

He led her away, ignoring the constant efforts she made, as they climbed the bank, to gaze back across his shoulder.
Finally the intervening branches completely hid that white, dead face below, and, as if with it had vanished all remaining strength of will, or power of body, the girl drooped her head against him, swaying blindly as she walked.

Without a word he drew her close within his arm, her hair blowing across his face, her hand gripping his shoulder.
It was thus they came forth amid the clearer starlight upon the ridge summit.

Again and again as they moved slowly he strove to speak, to utter some word of comfort, of sympathy.