'You only love me out of duty. It must be that, because I'm not a bit nice; so probably my Father in heaven gave me up long ago!'
'Agatha, my darling, do you not know better than that?'
'Better than which, guardian? better than to doubt God's love or yours?' she asked, smiling through tears that seemed to burn her weary eyes.
'I might answer truthfully, "Both"; but if you cannot trust in my love, you should be able to lean confidently upon the love of your Maker.'
'Are you really fond of me? Would you be sorry if I were to die?'
Colonel Jack looked his ward gravely in the face, his eyes filled with sincerity. He was a man of action, not of words, so he made no lengthy protestations, only saying with heartfelt fervour:
'I love you, for your own sake and that of my old friend, your father; and I should be lonely without you.'
Agatha gazed at him in silence for a minute or two, studying the sincerity of his eyes, which had so often looked at death calmly. Then she pressed her lips to his hand, and cried:
'I'm happier now, then! It's dreadful to think that no one does. Perhaps—I mean, I'll believe God does.'
'"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,"' quoted the colonel reverently.