"Oh, God! How pure and dainty and unspotted she is, and I—I am unclean."
He saw as clearly as if a light had been turned in upon his secret thought, that the ownership of "The Witch" was in question. He had not been candid with her—he had been dishonest. He had not dared to let her know how he had secured control of that stock.
All the way back to the Springs he wrestled with himself about it. He ended by reasserting the justice of his position, and resolved to tell her at once the whole story and let her judge. He had in his pocket the deed to the house and lot, which he determined now to give her at once, and to make explanations at the same time.
This he did. He called to see her the following afternoon and found her surrounded with women and gowns and flowers. The women fled when he approached, but the gowns and flowers remained, and there was talk upon them till at last, in sheer desperation, Clement said:
"Ellice, here is something that I want to give you now. It is my wedding gift."
He placed in her hand the deed. She looked at it.
"Oh, there's so much fine print. I can't read it now. What is it?"
"It is the deed to the new home."
Her eyes misted with quick emotion.
"How good you are to me, Richard."