She cast a startled look into his face. "Oh, but you only say that because—because—"
"Because it is the truth," he said.
"But is it the truth?" she asked, a little wildly. "Is it? Is it? Oh, Trevor, if you knew—if you knew—" Her voice failed. She began to sob. "I can't bear it," she whispered. "I can't! I can't!" And with that she broke down utterly, bowing her head upon his knee in a passion of weeping more violent than he had ever before witnessed.
"Chris! Chris!" he said.
He would have lifted her, but she sank lower, as one crushed to the earth by a burden too heavy to be borne.
For a while her weeping was the only sound in the room, but at length he spoke again over her bowed head.
"Chris—my darling—do you know—I can't bear it either if you cry like this?"
His voice was low and not very steady. It appealed to her even in the depth of her distress. She stretched up a trembling hand, and clasped his.
Gradually her sobbing grew less violent, and at length it ceased; but she remained crouched against his knee with her face hidden for many minutes.
Trevor said no more. Only at last he bent and laid his lips upon her hair.