"And that you are going to marry me?"
"If you ask me properly."
"Jean, will you marry me and come out with me and share my work?"
"I will!"
He gazed at her steadfastly, and said softly—
"Thank God! it is true!"
He enjoyed that full sunshine of felicity for close on five minutes, and then said more soberly—
"Do you quite understand, dear, all that you are giving up? Life out there——"
"It is enough for me at present to realise what I have gained. Can you not understand, dear, that to a woman the time comes when the heart's love of one man is more to her than all the rest of the whole wide world? Life touched its highest with me when you made my fingers bleed a few minutes ago."
"I made your——" and he snatched her hands and saw the tiny wounds. "Oh, forgive me! I did not know——" and he kissed them tenderly.