"No, no, Noll. There...."
"You love him.... You love him."
"No, Noll. No...." She lied, not to deceive her husband, but to comfort him. Her eyes, above Noll's head, seemed to ask her love's pardon for the lie. "No, Noll.... You're my husband."
His arms tightened about her waist; his great chest pressed against her knees. "You're mine," he begged. "You're mine. Don't go away from me."
"No. Never.... Never, forever."
He raised his face from her lap at last; and she saw that it was sunken like the countenance of one long dead. Cadaverous.... He cried, in utter self-abasement. "Eh, Faith. I don't deserve you. I'm an old, helpless man...."
She smiled at him. "I married you, Noll."
"I'm no good. They're laughing at me...."
Her eyes heartened him. "Master them. Command them. You are the master, Noll."
"I can't.... There's no strength in me...."