Again she gave him a swift, shy, questioning glance, and he grew bolder still.
He came closer, and stood beside her.
“Most of all, I want to tell you that I love you with all my heart and soul and strength, and, until this moment, I have been afraid that that would vex you too.”
She raised her eyes then, swimming in sudden tears of gladness.
“But it doesn’t?…” he said eagerly, “you… you… Oh, Ethel! is it possible you would like me to say it?”
“It has been possible a long time, Dudley, but I did not think it would ever be said.”
He took her hands in his and kissed first one and then the other. For the moment he was too overwhelmed at the suddenness of his joy to understand it.
“I thought you despised me,” he breathed. “It did not seem possible you could do anything else; but Hal said I was wrong.”
She smiled faintly.
“Yes; Hal knew,” she told him. “I think she has known some time.” Then she seemed to sway a little.