His arms went around her hungrily, as if he would draw her to him in spite of everything; yet he kept them so encircling, without touching her, like a benediction that would enwrap the very soul of his beloved. Looking down into her face he breathed softly:
“Oh, my dear, it seems as if I must hold you close and kiss you!”
She looked up with bated breath, and thought she understood. Then, with a lovely gesture of surrender, she whispered, “I can trust you.” Her lashes were drooping now over her eyes.
“Not until you know all,” he said, and put her gently from him into the great arm-chair, with a look of reverence and self-abnegation she felt she never would forget.
“Then, tell me quickly,” she said, a swift fear making her weak from head to foot. She laid her hand across her heart, as if to help steady its beating.
He wheeled forward the leather couch opposite her chair, and sat down, his head drooping, his eyes down. He dreaded to begin.
She waited for the revelation, her eyes upon his bowed head.
Finally he lifted his eyes and saw her look, and a tender light came into his face.
“It is a strange story,” he said. “I don’t know what you will think of me after it is told, but I want you to know that, blundering, stupid, even criminal, though you may think me, I would sooner die this minute than cause you one more breath of suffering.”
Her eyes lit up with a wonderful light, and the ready tears sprang into them, tears that sparkled through the sunshine of a great joy that illumined her whole face.