"Yes...."
"Are you being truthful? Will you always tell me the truth, the whole
truth?"
"Yes...."
"That's a good boy. Please keep on giving my pet the right answers.
Ralph, don't you know that if you freed the Unterzuyders I couldn't
ever look at you again?"
There were angry tears in her eyes. Unterzuyder suddenly remembered the
time at the dance, when he had wiped away her tears. He should wipe
them away now. He was weakening. He was an Unterzuyder. He should be
strong. There was his duty....
"Fayette," he said hoarsely.
"Stand back." Her chin came up. "Answer the question! Yes or no."
"Yes."
"Do you want to marry me?"
"Yes, Fayette."
Her mouth opened and closed. Suddenly her shoulders heaved and she
shook her head blindly. The gun dropped to her side. "Oh, Ralph. I
can't do it. I was going to ask you if you still wanted to go ahead
with it. But I can't. I can't force you. You'll have to make up your
own mind!" She turned away, hiding her face with one arm. Instantly, he
leaped for her, tearing the gun from her hand.
He looked at it where it lay black and ugly in his hands. He was seeing
it very well, with his excellent Unterzuyder eyes. It slipped from his
hand and fell to the floor. He let it lie, and took Fayette into his
arms.