He took her hand in his: she lifted her eyes—a flood of mournful tenderness clouded them.
"What then, William?"
"Yes, what then? How would any knowledge of my feelings have affected your destiny?"
"How? Did I not love—worship—idolize? Oh! Heavens, how I did love you, William!"
Her hands were clasped passionately: a glorious light broke through the mist of her unshed tears.
"But you abandoned me!"
"Abandoned you—oh, William!"
"Well, we will not recriminate—let us leave the past for a moment. It has not been so pleasant that we should wish to dwell upon it."
"Pleasant! oh! what a bitter, bitter past it has been to me!"
"But the present. If you and I can talk of anything, it must be that. Where have you been so many years?"