“There’s nothing to forgive. But—” There I halted.
“I’ll make up for it, dear,” she went on, sweetly gracious. “I’m not surprised that you are stunned. You didn’t realize how I loved you. I didn’t myself. I couldn’t believe at first when I found out.”
“You are not strong enough to talk about these things to-day,” said I. “We’ll wait until——”
She interrupted my hesitating speech with a laugh full of gentle gayety. “You’re quite wrong,” said she. “I’m not out of my mind. I mean it, dear—and more. Oh, we shall be so happy! You’ve been far too modest about yourself. You don’t appreciate what a fascinating man you are.”
I’m sure I reddened violently. I sat, rose, sat again. “You’ve given me the shock of my life,” said I, with an embarrassed laugh. “I’ll have to think this over.” I rose.
“No—don’t go yet,” said she, with the graciousness of a princess granting a longer interview. “Let me tell you all about it.”
“Not to-day,” I pleaded. “You must be careful. You mustn’t overtax yourself.”
“Oh, but this does me good. Sit near me, Godfrey, and hold my hand while I tell you.”
I felt like one closeted with an insane person and compelled to humor his caprices. I obediently shifted to a seat near her and took her hand.
“You could never guess how it came about,” she went on.