"I said that I would never marry you? I said that? That cannot be, Barbara; you are mistaken."
She shook her head. "That is what you said. I heard you myself. You told Mr. Greenfield at my house that morning he came to see you when you were hurt. I—I—the door into the dining room was open and I heard."
The light of quick understanding broke over the engineer's face. "And you heard what Uncle Jim said to me? But Barbara, didn't you hear the reason I gave him for saying that I would not marry you?"
"I—I couldn't hear anything after that," she said simply.
At her confession the man's strong face shone with triumph. "Listen, dear, I told Uncle Jim I would never marry you because you loved someone else and that there was no chance for me."
Barbara's brown eyes opened wide. "You thought that?"
"Yes. I thought you loved Abe Lee."
"Why—why I do love Abe."
The man laughed. "Of course you do; but I thought you loved him as I wanted you to love me; don't you understand?"
"Oh-h!" The exclamation was a confession, an explanation and an expression of complete understanding. "But that"—she added as she went to him—"that could not be."