"Nothing!" I answered, half afraid of myself as I spoke—"Nothing—but this. Just to think that I am not merely wilful or rebellious in parting from you for a little while—for if it is true—"
"If what is true?" he interposed, gently.
"If it is true that we are friends not for a time but for eternity"—I said, in steadier tones—"then it can only be for a little while that we shall be separated. And then afterwards I shall be quite sure—"
"Yes—quite sure of what you are sure of now!" he said—"As sure as any immortal creature can be of an immortal truth! Do you know how long we have been separated already?"
I shook my head, smiling a little.
"Well, I will not tell you!" he answered—"It might frighten you! But by all the powers of earth and heaven, we shall not traverse such distances apart again—not if I can prevent it!"
"And can you?" I asked, half wistfully.
"I can! And I will! For I am stronger than you—and the strongest wins! Your eyes look startled—there are glimpses of the moon in them, and they are soft eyes—not angry ones. I have seen them full of anger,—an anger that stabbed me to the heart!—but that was in the days gone by, when I was weaker than you. This time the position has changed—and I am master!"
"Not yet!" I said, resolutely, withdrawing my hand from his—"I yield to nothing—not even to happiness—till I KNOW!"
A slight shadow darkened the attractiveness of his features.