Then: "It is my profession," said Ronald West, huskily. "It is my career."
She moved round and faced him. They stood looking at one another, dumbly.
She knew all that was in his mind, and most that was in his heart.
He knew nothing of that which filled her mind at the moment, and only partly realised the great, unselfish love for him which filled her heart.
He was completely understood. He rested in that fact, without in the least comprehending his own lack of comprehension.
Moving close to him, she laid both hands upon his shoulders, hiding her face in silence against his breast.
He stroked her soft hair—helplessly, tenderly.
With his whole heart he loved her, leaned upon her, needed her. She had done everything for him; been everything to him.
But he meant to carry his point. He intended to go to Central Africa, and it was no sort of good pretending he did not. You never pretended with Helen, because she saw through you immediately, and usually told you so.
He had not spent a single night away from her since that wonderful day when, calm and radiant, she had moved up the church in presence of an admiring crowd, and taken her place at his side.