"I love him."
He stepped back and his face went as pale as her own. Several moments passed before words came from him.
"You love Mr. Aldrich?" asked a strange whisper.
"I love him," she said.
Again several moments passed before he spoke, and when he did speak his words were to himself rather than to her.
"And this is my answer?"
"Forgive me—because it came this way," she begged.
There was silence between them.
"He is safe," he said. He continued gazing at her several moments, then without speaking again he left the room.