"Can you forgive it?" he repeated, pillowing his elbow on his palm, and resting his chin on his finger and thumb. "Can you forgive it? Your heart must answer. If you love me—if you love me—"
She could not endure the appeal in his eyes, and her own dropped, with a sigh.
The moments raced past.
"Julia, have you no word for me?"
Silence unbroken. He waited for a while longer, then moved slowly towards the door. She heard his footsteps pass and recede, and it seemed that the hope of her life was going too. He reached the door leading into the hall.
"John!"
The low call was weighted with despair and love.
In a moment he was standing before her, with both her hands in his.
"You called me!" he whispered, reading the message in her swimming eyes. "You called me!"
"Back to happiness, John, if I can give it to you! You have borne so much, poor boy!"