“I also am tired,” he responded slowly—“But I never get away from my fatigue, for I am tired of myself. And I always rest badly. Good-night!”
“Good-night!” I answered,—and then paused, looking at him. He returned my look with interest.
“Well?” he asked expressively.
I forced a smile.
“Well!” I echoed—“I do not know what I should say,—except—that I wish I knew you as you are. I feel that you were right in telling me once that you are not what you seem.”
He still kept his eyes fixed upon me.
“As you have expressed the wish,”—he said slowly—“I promise you you shall know me as I am some-day! It may be well for you to know,—for the sake of others who may seek to cultivate my company.”
I moved away to leave the room.
“Thanks for all the trouble you have taken to-day,”—I said in a lighter tone—“Though I shall never be able to express my full gratitude in words.”
[p 289]
“If you wanted to thank anybody, thank God that you have lived through it!” he replied.