My heart beat madly, the blood rushed in my veins. What was that noise I heard in my ear beyond the shouting in the street?
Was it the cooing which used to haunt my dreams?
Yes it was. And Alathea's voice was murmuring in French:
"Pardon, pardon, j' etais si bien ingrate—Pardonnez moi—Hein?"
I wanted to whisper:
"Darling you have returned,—nothing matters any more," but I controlled myself. She must finally surrender first!
Then she sprang to her feet and stood back to look at me. I rose too and there towered above her.
"Oh, I am so glad, so glad," she said tremulously. "How wonderful,—how miraculous!—It is for this great day!"
"I thought that you had left me altogether." I was a little breathless, "I was so very sad."
Now she looked down.