Her voice had sunk almost to a whisper, and her eyes were looking into the fire.
“What?” he asked huskily.
“To forget—me,” she breathed.
“Yes, yes,” he said, “that is what I want to forget.”
“Why?” she said, not looking at him.
“Because—oh, because I love you too much, dear, to want to drag you down to my level. I love you more than I thought it possible to love a woman—so much, that I am happy to sacrifice the dearest wish of my heart, because I think I will serve you better by leaving you.”
He took her hand and held it between his two strong hands.
“Don’t you think,” she whispered, so that he had to bend closer to hear what she said, “don’t you think I—I ought to be consulted?”
“You—you,” he cried in wonderment, “would you——”
She looked at him with a smile, and her eyes were radiant with unspoken happiness.