"This rejoices me, Aileen—it will rejoice us all," he answered heartily to cover his emotion.
"But it won't be easy to stay where I am."
"I know—I know; you speak as one who has suffered; but has not Champney suffered too? Think of his home-coming!"
"Yes, he has suffered—in a way—but not my way."
Father Honoré had a vision at that moment of Champney Googe's face when he said, "But you loved her with your whole manhood." He made no reply, but waited for Aileen to say more if she should so choose.
"I believed he loved me—and so I told him my love—I shall never, never get over that!" she exclaimed passionately. "But I know now—I knew before he went away the last time, that I was mistaken; no man could say what he did and know even the first letter of love."
Her indignation was rising, and Father Honoré welcomed it; it was a natural trait with her, and its suppression gave him more cause for anxiety than its expression.
"He didn't love me—not really—"
"Are you sure of this, Aileen?"
"Yes, I am sure."