"
"It would come afterwards," Jack said, with conviction. "I know it would.
He's such a good chap. You've never done him justice. See, Dot girl!
You're not happy. I know that. You want to stretch your wings, you say.
Well, there's only one way of doing it, for you can't go out into the
world--this world--alone. At least, you'll break my heart if you do. He's
the only fellow anywhere near worthy of you. And he's been so awfully
patient. Do give him his chance!"
He put his arm round her shoulders again, holding her very tenderly.
She yielded herself to him with a suppressed sob. "I'm sure it would be
wrong, Jack," she said.
"Not a bit wrong!" Jack maintained, stoutly. "What have you been waiting
for all this time? A myth, an illusion, that can never come true! You've
no right to spoil your own life and someone else's as well for such a
reason as that. I call that wrong--if you like."
She hid her face against him with a piteous gesture. "He--said he would
come back, Jack."
Jack frowned over her bowed head even while he softly stroked it. "And if
he had--do you think I would ever have let you go to him? A cattle thief,
Dot! An outlaw!"
She clung to him trembling. "He saved my life--at the risk of his own,"
she whispered, almost inarticulately.
"Oh, I know--I know. He was that sort--brave enough, but a hopeless
rotter." Jack's voice held a curious mixture of tenderness and contempt.
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