“Dear Norham, I have nothing to pardon in you; but much, very much to thank and love you for. Please rise,” she answered, in a gentle voice, as she closed her hand upon his, and tried to lift him up.
“I have been rude and violent to you, my gentle one.”
“Only for a few moments, while for months and months you have been kind and loving.”
“But I have wounded your delicacy, wrung your heart!”
“Well, when I have received so much good from you, shall I not receive a little necessary evil too? Can I have the rose of Love without its inevitable thorn of Jealousy? Pray rise.”
“Gentlest of all gentle girls, I do indeed believe that it would be easier to wound than offend you, and far easier to wrong than to estrange your heart,” said Norham, rising to his feet, and pressing her hand to his lips.
“It would indeed be most difficult for you to offend me, and quite impossible to estrange me. For even if you were to cease to love me—”
She paused, and a deep blush overspread her face.
“My own heart must first cease to beat—nay, my own soul to exist, ere I cease to love you, Alma; for my love seems the most immortal element in my immortality! Do you not believe me?” said Norham, fervently.
“Yes, I do. And trust in me also, Norham; nor for my sake, for, as I said before, I am willing to take the pain with the joy, but for your own, dear Norham, for it must be so distressing to suspect one that you love. And oh, Norham! consider how little cause you have to doubt me. I am not as other young ladies who have many friends and relatives to love them. I have but you only in the wide, wide world! Did I ever tell you before, Norham, that I never in my life received a caress, a word, or a glance of affection from any human creature until I met you? My very soul seemed perishing in its solitude, when your sympathy and affection came to me as the dew and the sunshine to a fading flower. You loved me and won my love! You gave me new life! Oh, is it likely, is it even possible, that my heart should ever swerve in its allegiance to its life-giver?”