“For your father’s deliverance. I shall bring him back to you if he be alive or I never return.”
“Pierre, Pierre, I cannot have you do this thing for me. Tell me what you intend. Suppose he, the one who called himself your master, should discover you, what then?”
“That is it, but I shall first have gained your father’s release.”
“No, no, I cannot consent; even for that I could not let you take such risks.”
“What matters it? A little longer, a little shorter time and all is over. And life to me without Alaine, what would it be anywhere? The supreme joy, the wonder of happiness if I should succeed and return to find you mine, Alaine, it is worth the deepest misery I could suffer. To see you happy, even if I miss a supreme joy myself, is enough.”
“Do not, do not say that,” she murmured. “Ah, Pierre, if you but knew how unworthy I am of such love.”
“It is how I must love. Your happiness at any cost. I have seen tears in your eyes because of your father’s condition, and could I hesitate if mine might be the hand to wipe them away? No, no, beloved, I would be a slave forever for your sweet sake; it would glorify my days to wake in the morning and say, She is happy there in her home, my Alaine; she smiles, she sings, and God has let me give her this happiness. Whatever my body might suffer, my heart would sing with yours.”
Alaine’s tears fell softly. “Oh, Pierre, Pierre, such great love, and I——”
He interrupted her hastily. “I do not ask yours. I ask only to do this for you.” He laid his hand on her head and smoothed back the curling locks that strayed from under her little cap. “Sweet eyes, dear lips.” He gave a long, shivering sigh. “I ask no promise, sweet.”
Alaine lifted her tearful eyes. “I ought to give it, Pierre, for I do not forget that I told you I would marry whom my father should desire.”