‘And he will be all we expect of him. You and I must try to make his life happy, Greif. He is a very lonely man. He is much older than we are—just think! He is nearly as old as my mother. But he looked old to-day. Poor Rex! I would do anything to make him happy.’
‘You have made him happy already.’
‘How?’
‘You have made him forgive himself, and you have made him feel that he is one of us, more than ever before. Only a woman could have done that, Hilda—perhaps no woman but you.’
‘Do you think I did that? I should be very glad—’
‘I am sure of it. He never yields unless he is convinced. He is a man of iron and steel. If he had still believed that he was to blame for all this, no earthly power would have made him consent to live. And now, he will live, and he will be happy. He owes his life to you, darling.’
‘As I owe yours to him.’
‘As I owe mine to you both. Surely, no three were ever so bound together as we are. It is strange and wonderful.’
‘But the bond is closest here, my beloved!’ exclaimed Hilda, as her arms went round him.
‘Ay, closest and best!’ answered Greif, as their lips met.