He came nearer to her, and looked down earnestly into her face.
"Juliet," he said, "let me help you to forget. Put the past quite away from you, and begin a new life with me."
"With you?" she repeated, startled, and not comprehending.
"With me—as my wife. Can you love me and trust me enough for that?"
She did not answer for a moment. She stood looking at him with bewilderment in her eyes. "You ask me to marry you?"
"Yes, darling, because I love you. I cannot tell you how I love you."
"Well," she said slowly, as if thinking aloud, "I always thought you were good and kind, but I never knew till now how good and unselfish you are."
"Neither good nor unselfish, darling. You do not understand, if you think that. Tell me—shall it be as I wish?"
Again she was silent. She was gazing across the sea with a strange expression on her face, as of pride and exultation. But when he again begged for a reply, she shook her head.
"No, no," she said; "you have made me glad and proud, but I will not be your wife."