"I am sorry," she said, slowly, gently, "that you spoke in that strain now. This is not the time for such matters----"
"Then a time may come, Marion--a time may come soon or late? I do not care when----"
"No," she answered, quietly, resolutely.
"That time came and went long ago. Be silent on that subject. I want to speak of long ago."
He groaned, and struck his forehead with his clenched fist.
"It was scarcely fair of me to ask you to come. Will you answer my questions?"
"Ask me what you please. I'll do it. The only hope now left to me is that you will allow me to serve you."
"My next question may be, must be painful to you."
He laughed bitterly.
"That does not matter. Nothing can matter now, except feeling I can be of no use to you."