"I dared not hope you'd pass," she whispered.
"I am the greatest villain in the world!" I cried. "Barbara, you had no thought that I should pass!"
Again came silence. Then I spoke, and softly:
"And you—is it long since you——?"
She held out her hands towards me, and in an instant was in my arms. First she hid her face, but then drew herself back as far as the circle of my arm allowed. Her dark eyes met mine full and direct in a confession that shamed me but shamed her no more; her shame was swallowed in the sweet pride of surrender.
"Always," said she, "always; from the first through all; always, always." It seemed that though she could not speak that word enough.
In truth I could scarcely believe it; save when I looked in her eyes, I could not believe it.
"But I wouldn't tell you," she said. "I swore you should never know. Simon, do you remember how you left me?"
It seemed that I must play penitent now.
"I was too young to know——" I began.