He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
He felt that he must tell her ere long. He had almost betrayed it to-night, and the hot blood surged into his face as he thought of it, and wondered how she regarded him.
Would she not feel that he was presuming upon the service which he had just rendered her if he should confess it?
And yet, in his heart, he exulted over the event, even while he trembled and grew faint as he realized how near he had come to losing her forever.
The danger and the escape from it had brought them nearer to each other than ever before. She had trusted him, leaned upon him, and even allowed his arm to clasp her unshrinkingly when she could not stand alone.
And now she was under the same roof with him, and would remain several days, she said.
It seemed too much happiness, after all his discouragements and disappointments in seeking her.
Of course, he would not return to London now; of what use would it be, when the object of his search there was found?