A
curious tingling sensation of fright had seized her--something entirely
unknown to her heretofore. She spoke again because frightened; the
heavy, hard pulse in breast and throat played tricks with her voice and
she swallowed and attempted to steady it: "I--if--if I ever forget, you
will know it as soon as I do--"
Her throat seemed to close in a quick, unsteady breath; she halted, both
small hands clinched:
"_Don't_ talk this way!" she said, exasperated under a rush of
sensations utterly incomprehensible--stinging, confused emotions that
beat chaotic time to the clamour of her pulses. "Why d-do you speak of
such things?" she repeated with a fierce little indrawn breath--"why do
you?--when you know--when I said--explained everything?" She looked at
him fearfully: "You are somehow spoiling our friendship," she said; "and
I don't exactly know how you are doing it, but something of the comfort
of it is being taken away from me--and don't! don't! don't do it!"
She covered her eyes with her clinched hands, stood a moment,
motionless; then her arms dropped, and she turned sharply with a gesture
which left him standing there and walked rapidly across the beach to the
pavilion.
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