"I've got to trust you! I do!" The words seemed to burst from him. "You know I love you more than all the world. It would kill me to lose you."
"I'd rather die from the shock of losing you, Roger, than from such a hateful pain, going on and on——"
"It shan't go on," he said. "I've been happy, too. I'm a changed man since the hour I saw you and loved you. It's only to-day I've been wretched. Forgive me, Bev—and God forgive you if——"
"There's an 'if' for you?"
"No—no, there's no 'if' any more. You're to forgive me——that's all!"
"Oh, I do! The hard thing would be not to forgive. But—can we go on being happy again, just as if nothing had happened?"
"Of course we can, silly child. Nothing has happened." Roger had her in his arms now. He kissed her over and over again, till she gasped for breath. "This has only cleared the air. As for that beastly child, I don't care if she's a murderess. Keep her forever, if you choose. Train her as your maid——"
"But she's not 'beastly!' And she's not the kind to have for a maid. I think she's a lady. She seems——"
"Well, do whatever you like with her. Can I go further, to show you I want to atone?"
"No, you can't, Roger——" Beverley nestled her face into his neck. "I adore you!"