"I have my answer—John!" she whispered hoarsely, after an interval. "I have my answer!"
"Yes, Marien," he replied, sorrowfully but decisively, "you have your answer."
Her eyes, always eloquent, and now with a look of terrible hurt in them, suffused quickly, and it seemed that she would burst into tears and fling herself weakly upon the man she loved so hopelessly. Instead, however, only a shiny drop or two coursed down the cheeks which continued as white as marble; and she held herself resolutely aloof, but balancing uncertainly until all at once her rounded figure seemed to wilt and she would have fallen, had not the minister thrown an arm about the tottering form and with gentle brotherliness of manner helped her to a seat in the Morris chair.
For a considerable time she sat with her face in her hands, silent but for an occasional dry, eruptive sob.
Hampstead, standing back with arms folded and one hand making a rest for his chin, looked on helplessly, realizing that for the first time he was studying this complex personality with something like real comprehension.
While he gazed a purpose appeared to stir again in the disconsolate figure. The dry sobs ceased, and the body straightened till her head found its rest upon the back of the chair; but there the woman relaxed again in seeming total exhaustion with eyes closed and lips slightly parted. Hampstead drew a little closer, as if in tribute to this determined nature which now obviously fought with its grief as it had fought to gain the object of its attachment—indomitably. He had again the feeling which had come to him before, that she was greater, was worthier than he.
"How I have made you suffer!" Marien exclaimed abruptly, at the same time opening her eyes.
"Yes," the minister confessed frankly, while the lines of pain seemed to chisel themselves deeper upon his face with the admission, "you have indeed made me suffer."
"Can you ever, ever forgive me?" she asked, lifting her hand appealingly.
It was a small hand and lily white, with slim and tapering fingers. The minister took it in his and found it as soft as before,—but chilled.