'But, Hester,—Hester, you are. Do not speak as though that were possible.'
'I know that you love me. I am sure of that. Nothing should ever make me leave you;—nothing. You are all the world to me now. Whatever you may have done I will be true to you. Only tell me everything.'
'I think I have,' he said, hoarsely. Then he remembered that he had told much to Robert Bolton which she had not heard. 'I did tell her that I would marry her.'
'You did.'
'Yes, I did.'
'Is not that a marriage in some countries?'
'I think nowhere,—certainly not there. And the people, hearing of it all, used to call her by my name.'
'O John!—will not that be against us?'
'It will be against me,—in the minds of persons like your mother.'
'I will care nothing for that. I know that you have repented, and are sorry. I know that you love me now.'