It was as if a chasm had yawned beneath his feet, and all
the castles of his dreams had come down in ruins. He stood there,
stunned and horrified, staring at the wreckage of everything he had
believed.
Then suddenly he crossed the drawing-room and opened one of the French
windows which led to the piazza. The rain was driving underneath
the shelter of the roof; but he faced it, and ran toward the door.
The girl was lying in front of it, and above the noise of the wind and
rain he heard her sobbing wildly. He stood for a minute, hesitating;
then he bent down and touched her.
"Lady," he said.
She started. "Who are you?" she cried.
"I'm just one of the servants, ma'am."
She caught her breath. "Did he send you?" she demanded.
"No," said he, "I came to help you."
"I don't need any help. Let me be."
"But you can't stay here in the rain," he protested. "You'll catch
your death."
"I want to die!" she answered. "What have I to live for?"
Samuel stood for a moment, perplexed. Then, as he touched her wet
clothing again, common sense asserted itself. "You mustn't stay here,"
he said. "You mustn't."
But she only went on weeping. "He's cast me off!" she exclaimed. "My
God, what shall I do?"
Samuel turned and ran into the house again and got an umbrella in the
hall. Then he took the girl by the arm and half lifted her. "Come," he
said.
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