“I have nothing to forgive. Listen to me. Swear to me that you believe me, that you believe that you have given me happiness and that I am not suffering.”

“I ... I swear.”

“I trust that you are not swearing this merely to satisfy my wish.”

“You have been the highest thing in my life,” he said, gently.

A rapture shot through her soul.

“Tell me only....” she began.

“What?”

“Tell me if you believe that I, I, I ... shall always remain the highest thing in your life.”

She stood before him, tall, in her clinging white. She seemed to shed radiance; never had he seen her so beautiful.

“I am certain of that,” he said. “Certain, oh, certain!... My God, how can I convey the certainty of it to you?”