"Yes," she replied, and there was an uneasy look in her eyes, "but you have repented, Radford."
"And if I had not?"
"Then," she said, "I would not have promised to marry you."
"You mean that?"
"Yes, I mean that. I could never truly love a man whom I did not respect. And I could not respect such a man as you were, no matter how clever I might think you to be. Even although I might love a bad man, I would never marry him."
He knew she meant what she said, and while it saddened him, it made him rejoice also. Yes, she had driven all his old theories to the winds. Whatever was true with other women, this woman was prompted by true thoughts, inspired by high ideals.
He was silent for a while.
"Yes," he said presently, "and you are right. What you say is right. And I want to believe, Olive; sometimes I do, I do now. And I want to be a good man, yes, a good man. You'll help me, won't you?"
"I'll do all that a woman may, Radford; but only God can make a man truly good."
"It's wonderful, that Christian story," he said.