"I don't understand," she murmured.
"I hope you never need," he answered earnestly, holding out his hand again.
This time she took it, but, as she did, she looked full in his face and said,
"I will believe nothing against you, not even your own words. Good-bye."
Her voice faltered in the last syllable, and she ran hastily down the stairs.
Medland stood still for some minutes. Then he went in to his daughter and kissed her.
But even that night, in spite of his remorse and sorrow for her grief, his daughter was not alone in his thoughts.