“Was she?” innocently.
“Didn’t you see it? How blind men are!”
“Not always.”
“David, did you see that I cared for you?” asked Christie, turning crimson under the significant glance he gave her.
“I wish I had; I confess I once or twice fancied that I caught glimpses of bliss round the corner, as it were; but, before I could decide, the glimpses vanished, and I was very sure I was a conceited coxcomb to think it for a moment. It was very hard, and yet I was glad.”
“Glad!”
“Yes, because I had made a sort of vow that I’d never love or marry as a punishment for my cruelty to Letty.”
“That was wrong, David.”
“I see it now; but it was not hard to keep that foolish vow till you came; and you see I’ve broken it without a shadow of regret to-night.”
“You might have done it months ago and saved me so much woe if you had not been a dear, modest, morbidly conscientious bat,” sighed Christie, pleased and proud to learn her power, yet sorry for the long delay.