Professor Baffin hardly knew what answer he had better give. After hesitating for a moment, he said:
“I have been.”
“Then your wife is dead?”
The Professor could not lie. He had to say “Yes!”
“I am so glad,” murmured Bragwaine. “Not that she is dead, but that you are free.”
Professor Baffin was afraid to ask why. He felt that matters were becoming serious.
“And the reason is,” continued Bragwaine, “that I have learned to love you better than I love any other one on earth!”
She said this calmly, very modestly, and quite as if it were a matter of course.
The Professor in astonishment looked at Sir Bleoberis, who had heard Bragwaine’s words. The Knight nodded to him pleasantly, and said, “I expected this.”
Evidently it was not an unusual thing for ladies so to express their feelings.