The train had come to a standstill.  There was a commotion of voices and running feet.  Jeff, still with that awful look in his eyes, stood still.

“You will miss your train,” he said.

“What are you going to do?” she reiterated.

He smiled—­a grim, dreadful smile.  “I am going to see you off.  You can go now.  Your friend Chesyl can follow by the next train—­when I have done with him.”

He had the key in his hand.  He stooped to insert it in the lock.  But swiftly she caught his wrist.  “Jeff, stop—­stop!” she gasped; and, as he looked at her:  “I’m not going away now!”

He wrung his hand free.  “You had better go—­for your own sake!” he said.

She flinched in spite of herself from the blazing menace of his eyes, but again necessity spurred her.  She stretched out her arms, barring his way.

“I won’t!  I can’t!  Jeff—­Jeff—­for Heaven’s sake—­Jeff!” Her voice broke into wild entreaty.  He had taken her roughly by the shoulders, pulling her from his path.  He would have put her from him, but she snatched her opportunity and clung to him fast with all her quivering strength.

He stood still then, suddenly rigid.  “I have warned you!” he said, in a voice so deep with passion that her heart quailed and ceased to beat.

“Let me go!”

But she only tightened her trembling hold.  “You shan’t go, Jeff!  You shan’t insult Hugh Chesyl!  He is a gentleman!”

“Is he?” said Jeff, very bitterly.

She could feel his every muscle strung and taut, ready for uncontrolled violence.  Yet still with her puny strength she held him, for she dared not let him go.

“Jeff, listen to me!  You must listen!  Hugh is my very good friend—­no more than that.  He has come here to say ‘Good-bye.’  I left a note for him on my way here, just to tell him I was going.  He is my friend—­only my friend.”

“I don’t believe you,” said Jeff.

She shrank as if he had struck her, but her hands still clutched his coat.  She attempted no further protestations, only stood with her white face lifted and clear eyes fixed on his.  The red fire that shone fiercely back on her was powerless to subdue her steady regard, though she felt as though it scorched her through and through.

From the platform came the shriek of the guard’s whistle.  The train was departing.

Doris heard it go with a sick sense of despair.  She knew that her liberty went with it.  As the last carriage passed she spoke again.

“I will go back with you now.”

“If I will take you back,” said Jeff.

Her hands clenched upon his coat.  An awful weakness had begun to assail her.  She fought against it desperately.

Someone tried the handle of the door, pulled at it and desisted.  She caught her breath.  Jeff’s hand went out to open, but she shifted her grasp, and again gripped his wrist.

“Wait!  Wait!” she whispered through her white lips.