She smiled into Bob’s face, pressed his hand and said, “Now, Bob you’ve done all a good friend could do. Go back. I don’t need you.”
And Bob answered with a smile and left her. In a moment Gaston was by her side with both her hands in his kissing them tenderly.
“Didn’t I surprise you, dear?” he softly asked.
“No. Bob denied you were here, but I knew it was a story. I was sure you would never leave without seeing me. You couldn’t, could you?”
“Not after what I saw in your eyes last night!” He whispered.
“It seems a century since I’ve heard your voice,” she said wistfully. “God alone knows what I have suffered, and I am growing weary of it.”
“Do you think I have been treated fairly?” he asked.
“No, I do not”
“Then you will write to me?”
“Yes. I will not starve my heart any longer.” And she pressed his hand.