Would you like him stopped?"
"It will do as well as anywhere."
Terrified lest he should relapse into that grim silence, she timidly
possessed herself of his hand.
It was fast growing dark; the cab, having left the villas of Surbiton
behind, was flying along at great speed among pine-trees and stretches
of heather gloomy with faded daylight.
Miltoun said presently, in a queer, slow voice "If I want, I have
only to open that door and jump. You who believe that 'to-morrow we
die'--give me the faith to feel that I can free myself by that jump, and
out I go!" Then, seeming to pity her terrified squeeze of his hand, he
added: "It's all right, Babs; we, shall sleep comfortably enough in our
beds tonight."
But, so desolate to the girl was his voice, that she hoped now for
silence.
"Let us be skinned quietly," muttered Miltoun, "if nothing else. Sorry
to have disturbed you."
Pressing close up to him, Barbara murmured:
"If only----Talk to me!".
But Miltoun, though he stroked her hand, was silent.
The cab, moving at unaccustomed speed along these deserted roads, moaned
dismally; and Barbara was possessed now by a desire which she dared not
put in practice, to pull his head down, and rock it against her. Her
heart felt empty, and timid; to have something warm resting on it would
have made all the difference.
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