She had started down. He met her at the bend.
"Not just now, dearest," he cried. "Wait! He wants to see your mother
first."
She clutched the rail, putting one hand out as if to ward him off. The
dread in her eyes went straight to his heart. Her lips were stiff, her
voice was low with anxiety.
"Is--is she safe, David,--is he himself? Oh, I must go down there. I
know I can reason--"
He stopped her gently. "Please, Christine," he commanded. She suddenly
put her hands to his face, and looked into his eyes.
"If anything were to happen to her," she whispered in agony, "I
would--"
"She is perfectly safe," he broke in. "Your father will not mistreat
her." He clasped her hands and held them to his breast. "My poor
darling!"
Her head dropped, her lip quivered. Then she quietly withdrew her
hands and sank to a sitting posture on the step, leaning her head
wearily against the banister.
Ruby Noakes, a discarded wet towel in her hand, came into the hallway
above them. She saw them, hesitated for a moment, and then quietly
returned to Christine's bed-chamber.
David dropped to his sweetheart's side.
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