"'Do you?' I interrupted him, eager to learn more.
"'Yes, very dearly,' he replied reflectively, and looked down into the water beneath him.
"My heart beat so violently that I could hardly draw my breath. So he, he took me into his confidence, he made a confederate of me. I could have embraced him there and then, so grateful did I feel towards him.
"'And does she know it?' I inquired.
"'I daresay she knows it,' he remarked; 'a thing of that sort cannot be concealed----'
"What--then--you have not--told her?' I stammered.
"He shook his head sadly.
"I was awakened from all my illusions. So the arbours of our garden had never afforded shelter to two lovers, the moon as it shone through the branches had never been the witness of clandestine kisses? And all my romancing had proved itself nothing but idle imagination? But in the midst of my disillusion a deep compassion seized me for this giant, crouching beside me as helpless as a child. Surely, I vowed to myself, he shall not in vain have put his trust in me!
"'Why did you remain silent?' I inquired further.
"He looked somewhat suspiciously at my immature youth, and then began, heaving a deep breath:--