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But what good did it do th How helpless and foolish and s it all, his face unspeakably sad, and his own eyes dry yet full of caring

"How could you do it, how could you do it!" I demanded I would not cease

But suddenly Sybelle rose from the piano, and with her ar all the while, rushed to ently in their tender arms

"Oh, Arry, don't be, don't be sad," Sybelle cried softly against nificent Armand, don't be sad, don't be Don't be cross We're with you forever "

"Aric," cried Benji "We didn't have to be born fros, you Dybbuk, to tell us such a tale! Armand, ill never die noill never be sick, and never hurt and never afraid again " He julee and spun in another or, that he could leap so high and with such g

race "Armand, we are so happy "

"Oh, yes, please," cried Sybelle softly in her deeper gentler voice "I love you so much, Armand, I love you so very very much We had to do it We had to We had to do it, to always and forever be with you "

My fingers hovered about her, wanting to coround her forehead desperately into ht around the chest, I couldn't not touch her, couldn't not embrace her, couldn't not assure her

"Armand, I love you, I adore you, Armand, I live only for you, and noith you always," she said

I nodded, I tried to speak She kissed an to kiss the, don't cry," she kept saying in her urgent lohisper "Armand, we love you "

"Armand, we are so happy!" cried Benji "Look, Arether now to her ether Armand, we have hunted already " He dashed up towith excite out his ar, all filled rong dreams Armand, don't you see?"

"I love you," I whispered in a tiny voice into Sybelle's ear I whispered it again, and then ently to ers felt her silky white skin and the zinging fineness of her shining hair

Still holding her to me, I whispered, "Don't tremble, I love you, I love you "

I clasped Benji to me with my left hand "And you, scamp, you can tell me all of it in time Just let me hold you now Let me hold you "

I was shivering I was the one shivering They enclosedto keep me warm