She turned white, and leaned against the wall. His words were just the straw too much, and the next instant she burst into a flood of tears. When the strong and the brave give way, it is always a painful sight, and now Mollie's tears were as the final straw to Strause. He could not stand them. The next instant he swept his strong arms round her.
"You shall give me what I want," he said--"one kiss. Give it to me at once. You will drive me mad if you refuse."
These words acted as a cold douche: she recovered her self-control in a moment. Disengaging herself from his embrace, she backed away from him.
"I am sorry for you," she said. "You are mistaken. I could never by any possibility love you. Forget that you have spoken."
"You can never love me!" he said. "Do you mean to tell me that you--reject me?"
"We won't talk of it, Major Strause. But yes, it is only kind to put you out of your pain. I am sorry for you, very sorry, but I can never marry you."
"No; and you have done splendidly since you came here. We have all admired you. You don't know what the nurses think of you, and how loud they are in your praise. Don't, don't spoil everything now, just for a personal feeling. Who can think of himself at moments like these. Be brave right on to the end, and let your conscience be your reward."
"That is all too high for me," he cried. "It may suit you, Sister Mollie, but I am not made of that stuff. I came to the wards because of you, and for nothing else. Do you think I wanted to give my strength nursing those fellows, and sitting in those beastly smelling wards, drinking in enteric poison and all the rest? No; I did what I did for you, Sister Mollie, and you are bound to give me something as my reward. You had no right to encourage me."
"Didn't you though? Yes, and what's more, I believe you would have had me but for-- Oh, I know what's up: you care for that other chap."
"You are in love with Keith, although he is engaged to your sister. Now listen."
"Hush!" replied Mollie. She was not white any longer; she was strong and rosy, and there was a proud light in her eyes and a firmness about her lips. "I won't listen to you," she said--"no, not another single word. I am utterly ashamed of you!"