"You must tell me everything, alanah. I've got the right to it now."
He shook his head in silent misery.
"But you must."
"No. I can't."
"Yes. You see, things are different with us two. You've made me know to-day how different. Last night I called to your mind the mockery we'd been through, calling it marriage. But it was a marriage, and the dear God has willed that my heart should beat for you as gently as that of any mother for its babe. It softened in the hospital, dear, when I saw you lying there so pale and weak against the pillows, and I knew that if God spared you for me I would make amends——"
"You—make amends——" he gasped.
"By giving you all that I had of faith, hope and charity. Whatever you were, whatever you are, dear, you're mine, for better or for worse, and I believe in you. And your troubles, whatever they are—I'll take my half of them."
"You can't——" he groaned.
"Not if they concern me," she continued simply, "for they're mine already."
He took a pace or two away from her.