He loosed me, stammering apologies, abasing himself.
‘I ought to leave you, I ought never to see you again.’ He spoke roughly. ‘What am I doing to you? You who are so innocent and pure!’
‘I entreat you not to talk like that,’ I gasped, reddening.
‘But I must talk like that,’ he insisted. ‘I must talk like that. You had everything that a woman can desire, and I come into your life and offer you—what?’
‘I have everything a woman can desire,’ I corrected him softly.
‘Angel!’ he breathed. ‘If I bring you disaster, you will forgive me, won’t you?’
‘My happiness will only cease with your love,’ I said.
‘Happiness!’ he repeated. ‘I have never been so happy as I am now; but such happiness is terrible. It seems to me impossible that such happiness can last.’
‘Faint heart!’ I chided him.
‘It is for you I tremble,’ he said. ‘If—if—’ He stopped. ‘My darling, forgive me!’