Whatever had happened before, whatever happened afterwards, she will remember to the day of her death that in that one moment, at least, they understood one another.
No need for question, for answer, for explanation of motives and feelings.
It was all as clear as daylight, in that strange, brief, interminable moment which to the onlookers showed nothing more than a pale, tired-looking gentleman offering his congratulations on her engagement to a flushed, bright-eyed lady.
Even that sharp battery of eyes could discover nothing more than this.
It was not long before the hall-door closed again upon Reuben.
He flung out into the night.
“Good God, good God!” he said to himself. Not till he had actually seen her had he been able to realize what had happened; to understand what manner of change had come into his life; to see what might have been, and what was.
He had so many things to tell her, which might never now be told. The blind, choking rage of a baffled creature came over him; he sped on, stifled, through the darkness.
Judith, sitting dazed and smiling in the gaslight, said over and over again in her heart: