"The way I feel at present," she said, jerkily, "I shall never, never from this instant till the hour in which I die, let go of your coat- tails, Mr. Barnes." Suiting the action to the word, her fingers resolutely fastened, not upon the tail of his coat but upon his sturdy arm. "I wouldn't stay here alone for anything in the world."
"Heaven bless you," he exclaimed, suddenly exalted. "And, since you put it that way, I shall always contrive to be within arm's length."
And so, together, they ventured along the edge of the pit until they reached the wagon road at the bottom. As he had expected, there was a ramshackle shed hard by. It was not much of a place, but it was deserted and a safe shelter for the moment.
A workman's bench lay on its side in the middle of the earthen floor. He righted it and drew it over to the boarding.... She laid her head against his shoulder and sighed deeply.... He kept his eyes glued on the door and listened for the first ominous sound outside. A long time afterward she stirred.
"Don't move," he said softly. "Go to sleep again if you can. I will--"
"Sleep? I haven't been asleep. I've been thinking all the time, Mr. Barnes. I've been wondering how I can ever repay you for all the pain, and trouble, and--"
"I am paid in full up to date," he said. "I take my pay as I go and am satisfied." He did not give her time to puzzle it out, but went on hurriedly: "You were so still I thought you were asleep."
"As if I could go to sleep with so many things to keep me awake!" She shivered.
"Are you cold? You are wet--"
"It was the excitement, the nervousness, Mr. Barnes," she said, drawing slightly away from him. He reconsidered the disposition of his arm. "Isn't it nearly daybreak?"
He looked at his watch. "Three o'clock," he said, and turned the light upon her face. "God, you are--" He checked the riotous words that were driven to his lips by the glimpse of her lovely face. "I-I beg your pardon!"
"For what?" she asked, after a moment.
"For--for blinding you with the light," he floundered.
"Oh, I can forgive you for that," she said composedly.
There ensued another period of silence. She remained slightly aloof.
"You'd better lean against me," he said at last. "I am softer than the beastly boards, you know, and quite as harmless."
"Thank you," she said, and promptly settled herself against his shoulder. "It IS better," she sighed.