“Why?”

“Because of my own pain. I wanted to make you suffer—as I suffered—only more.”

“I did. Much more. You’re not afraid of me now?”

“No, no. I’m not afraid of you. I shouldn’t be—be where I am, if I were.”

He took pains to give her locality a new definiteness.

“I’m not—what you thought I was?” he asked after that.

“No—yes—that is—I don’t know——”

“Jane!”

“I mean—I don’t believe I ever thought you anything but what you are.”

“You blessed child. And what am I?”