But without answering her, I continued:
"Since you can reason so wisely, how was it that you never reflected that, in permitting me to show you such assiduous preference, it was possible for you to be gravely compromised?"
"I never thought of it, I never reflected, because I loved you; besides, how could I think that anything we did was wrong, when I was certain of your affection?"
"Then from the very beginning you meant to marry me?"
Hélène scarcely seemed to hear me, and said:
"What did you say, Arthur?"
"I said this," said I, impatiently, "that you felt perfectly sure that I meant to marry you?"
"But," replied Hélène, more and more surprised, "I don't understand the meaning of the questions you ask me, Arthur. Think of what you are telling me! Heavens! after our vows of love! Have I ever had any doubts of you—of—?"
Then interrupting herself, she cried out:
"Ah, don't vilify yourself like that!"