“And are you content to take me entirely on trust?”

“Absolutely.”

“While I am under this shadow?”

“You are under no shadow. I take your word implicitly, as I would take it against gods and men.”

“Ah, I don’t deserve it.”

“Who could look in your eyes”—Gerald was doing so—“and think of deceit? Why do you look away, sweetheart?”

“I daren’t—I daren’t!”

“What?”

“Be—be—trusted like that!”