"Why, no," he said, "I did not. I will tell you. I did not swear never to tell a woman I loved her. I never dreamed I should love again. Vivian, I was fool enough to love a shallow, cruel woman, once, and nearly broke my heart in consequence. That was long years ago. I have never cared for a woman since—till I met you. And now I must pay double for that boy folly."
He came to her and took her hand.
"I love you," he said, his tense grip hurting her. "I shall love you as long as I live—day and night—forever! You shall know that at any rate!"
She could not raise her eyes. A rich bright color rose to the soft border of her hair. He caught her face in his hands and made her look at him; saw those dark, brilliant eyes softened, tear-filled, asking, and turned sharply away with a muffled cry.
"I have taken a solemn oath," he said in a strained, hard voice, "never to ask a woman to marry me."
He heard a little gasping laugh, and turned upon her. She stood there smiling, her hands reached out to him.
"You don't have to," she said.
A long time later, upon their happy stillness broke a faint voice from the other room: