'There's no earthly use in talking about it. You can give no reasons; you have no reasons. Your suspicion may be right or wrong; I don't care the toss of a button. All I know is, that we mustn't talk of it. Sit down and be quiet for a little. Oughtn't you to eat something before you go up?'
Alma put her hands upon his shoulders, bending her face so as to hide it from him.
'Dear—if you could just say that you believe me; not about myself—I know you do—but about her. Could you say that?'
He hesitated, all a man's common-sense in revolt against the entreaty; but he saw her quiver with a sob, and yielded.
'Very well, I will believe that too.'
Her touch became an embrace, gentle and timid; she threw her head back, gazing at him in rapture.
'You will never again doubt it?'
'Never again.'
'Oh, you are good!—you are kind to me, dear! And will you love me a little? Do you think you can, just a little?'
His answer satisfied her, and she lay in his arms, shedding tears of contentment. Then, for a long time, she talked of the new life before them. She would be everything he wished; no moment's trouble should ever again come between him and her. Nothing now had any charm for her but the still, happy life of home; her ambitions were all dead and buried. And Harvey answered her with tenderness; forgetting the doubt, refusing to look forward, knowing only that Alma had a place for ever in his heart.