She rose to her feet. With one stride he stood before her, leaning to look long into her eyes which never wavered while he read in them her woman's fealty to her love for him.
He held out his hands, and she placed hers within them. He spoke, and the voice was a prayer:
"My wife, Aileen—"
"My husband—" she answered, and the words were a Te Deum.
X
Octavius drew up near the shed and handed the reins to Father Honoré.
"If you'll just hold the mare a minute, I'll step inside and look for Aileen."
He disappeared in the darkening entrance, but was back again almost immediately. Father Honoré saw at once from his face that something unusual had taken place. He feared an accident.
"Is Aileen all right?" he asked anxiously.