‘And besides, he knew that you were his brother, from the first. That made it worse. How wonderfully he has kept the secret through all this time!’
‘There is nobody like him. There is only one Rex in the world,’ said Greif in a tone of conviction.
‘And there is only one Greif in the world,’ Hilda answered.
‘Fortunately. Do you know? I feel as if Rex were really going to make it easier for us.’
‘Easier? How?’
‘Easier to keep this thing from your mother. Hilda—it is a fearful story! As we stood there together, when you were speaking, I felt it all, I saw those other three, I heard their voices, I knew what they must have felt and thought and said, on that night. It must have been an awful scene. And here are we—two brothers, as they were—ah, the difference is in you, darling—how can I ever thank you for being Hilda!’
‘By loving me, sweetheart. Do not think of that in any other way. Besides, you owe me nothing. I cannot help loving you. If I did not love you I might hate you, though I think I should admire you, all the same.’
‘Admire me!’ exclaimed Greif, with an honest laugh.
‘You were grand to-day—you were so generous!’
‘I do not see much generosity—’