"How could you do that?"
"Ah! how indeed! For, truly, it could not be earned. But when I saw you first I was the laziest of men. Until that hour I had thrown my life away. I told myself that until I had done something to redeem the past, until I had made my mark upon the time, I might not make my petition for the prize."
"Then it is your fault, my friend."
"If there is a fault, it certainly is mine, for I am full of fault. But what especial evil have I done?"
She removed her hands from his, and tapping a pebble with her little foot, she smiled.
"You can never guess."
"Is it so black a crime?"
Suddenly she put her two hands to her face and laughed. But her cheeks were crimson all the same.
"Oh! what have I done? I shall never dare to tell." She peeped at him round the edges of her hands. "Shall you be angry with me, Will?"
"Never, if you call me Will!"