With a cry of joy he was at her side, her hand tight gripped in his:
"Why, that I'm in love, my own—that I love you, my glorious little girl! I didn't realize it until I saw just now the tears in your eyes and felt the pain of it. Every day these past weeks you've been stealing into my heart until now you're my very life! What hurts you hurts me—your joys are mine—your sorrows are mine!"
Laughing in spite of herself, Helen cried:
"You—don't realize what you're saying!"
"No—but I'm beginning to!" he answered with a boyish smile. "And it goes to my head like wine—I'm mad with its joy! I tell you I love you—I love you! and you love me—you do love me?"
The girl struggled, set her lips grimly and said fiercely:
"No—and I never shall!"
"You don't mean it?"
"I do!"
"You—you—don't love another?"