In a voice over which he seemed to be losing control, he went on, more rapidly:
“And it’s more than all that–it’s more than gratitude and respect. I–” For an instant he hesitated, then his words came hotly, with a reckless haste. “I love you as I never thought 127of loving any human being. It began when I first saw you on the wharf. You don’t know what it means. Why, I could lay down my life for you–a thousand times–and joyfully.”
From Elinor these words met with no outward recognition. She went quietly on with her ironing.
Pats drew a deep breath, sank into his chair and muttered, in a lower tone, “I never meant to tell you that. Now I–I–have done it.”
During the pause that followed these last words she said, quietly, without looking up:
“I knew it already.”
He straightened up. “Knew what already?”
She lifted a collar she was ironing and examined it, but made no reply.
“You knew what already?” he repeated. “That I was in love with you?”
She nodded, still regarding the collar.