"And you married me, knowing?"
"I married the man who bought a sing-song girl to give her her freedom."
"But I was intoxicated!"
"So was the man you just fought in this room. There is no hidden beast in you, Hoddy. I could not love you else."
"They may find me."
"Well, if they send you to prison, I'll be outside when they let you go."
He took her face between his hands and kissed her on the lips. "I'm not worth it. You are all that I am or hope to be—the celestial atom God put into me at the beginning. Now He has taken that out and given it form and beauty—you!"
"Wonderful hand!" Ruth seized his right hand and kissed it. "All the wonderful things it is going to do! If I could only know for certain that my mother knew how happy I'm going to be!"
"You love the memory of your mother?"
"It is a part of my blood … my beautiful mother!"