Then she caught my hand again and whispered hurriedly and fearfully: "I'm afraid, Simon.

I--I fear him.
What can I do?
How can I resist?
They can do what they will with me, what can I do?
If I weep, they laugh; if I try to laugh, they take it for consent.

What can I do ?" There is nothing that so binds a man to a woman as to feel her hand seeking his in weakness and appeal.

I had thought that one day so Barbara's might seek mine and I should exult in it, nay, might even let her perceive my triumph.

The thing I had dreamed of was come, but where was my exultation?
There was a choking in my throat and I swallowed twice before I contrived to answer: "What can we do, you mean, Mistress Barbara." "Alas, alas," she cried, between tears and laughter, "what can we--even we--do, Simon ?" I noticed that she called me Simon, as in the old days before my apostacy and great offence.