“You know how I have loved!”

Have loved! Ay, and how easily you have ceased to love!”

“No, no; I have never ceased to love you. It is because I must still love and love you that I am so wretched.”

“Then how can you be so unforgiving?”

“Oh, I am not unforgiving. I can forgive you anything, so long as I know that I am dear to you. Seven and seventy-seven times.”

“And you forgive me now?”

“I do. But you will never any more——”

“You must help me not to; you must pray for me, and assist me to be ever faithful to you.”

“I will, I will.”

He drew her to him, and kissed her on the lips.