“You saved me,” he said, “three times over. Here—”
“Don’t talk of that,” she shuddered.
”—Then by making me tell the truth, then by going to that poor woman. Body and soul, three times over.”
He had let her go, and they walked, step by step, through the long green grass. She sighed softly: “I am so happy that I am afraid.”
She felt as if she had reached heaven, and, as she had said, it frightened her until she had breathed a prayer. That calmed her swelling heart, and she could bear to hear him whisper again:
“Three times over.”
“Dear,” she said, “what of that? When one loves—”
“They all loved me. But only your love was strong enough to stand by me.”
She gave a quick, happy laugh.
“We have gained friends,” she said. “Monsieur Rodoin.”