“Yes? And what then?”
“That is all,” I said. “There was nothing more. But I thought it was nice of her.”
Pause.
“Where is that lady now?”
“Abroad.”
We spoke no more of that. But when it was time for her to go home, she said:
“Well, good-night. But you won't go thinking of that lady any more, will you? I don't think of anyone but you.”
I believed her. I saw that she meant what she said, and it was more than enough for me that she thought of no one else. I walked after her.
“Thank you, Edwarda,” I said. And then I added with all my heart: “You are all too good for me, but I am thankful that you will have me; God will reward you for that. I'm not so fine as many you could have, no doubt, but I am all yours—so endlessly yours, by my eternal soul.——What are you thinking of now, to bring tears to your eyes?”
“It was nothing,” she answered. “It sounded so strange—that God would reward me for that. You say things that I ... Oh, I love you so!”