He hesitated a moment longer; then, "Don't let it hurt you, dear!" he said. "But—actually—I wasn't sure that you cared—until I was with you in the temple and saw you—weeping for me."
"Oh, Everard!" she said.
He folded her in his arms. "My darling, I thought I had killed your love; and even though I found then that I was wrong, I wasn't sure that you would ever forgive me for playing that last trick upon you."
"Ah!" she whispered. "And if I—hadn't—forgiven—you?"
"I should have gone away," he said.
"You would have left me?" She pressed closer.
"I should have come back to you sometimes, sweetheart, in some other guise. I couldn't have kept away for ever. But I would never have intruded upon you," he said.
"Everard! Everard!" She hid her face against him. "You make me feel so ashamed—so utterly—unworthy."
"Don't darling! Don't," he whispered. "Let us be happy—to-night!"
"And I wanted you so! I missed you so!" she said brokenly.