"How do I know?" said Brooke, snappishly.
"And yet you gave your life for me," said Talbot, pensively.
"I didn't," said Brooke. "It was you that gave your life for me."
"The offer was made," said Talbot, mournfully, "but it wasn't accepted. I wish now that the offer had been accepted."
Brooke raised his head and looked at her with his pale, haggard face, whereon was still the impression of that great agony through which he had so lately passed. He looked at her with all his unspeakable love in his earnest, yearning gaze.
"Do you really wish that, Talbot?"
"I do," said she, sadly.
"Oh, my darling!" cried Brooke—"my own love, and my only love! What shall I do? Help me to decide."
He caught her in his arms and held her pressed convulsively to his heart, while Talbot laid her head on his shoulder and wept.
At length they rose to go.