'But you will come before that; you will not wait for any such words?'
But though he gave no special answer to this, she saw by his face that he would wait.
'But you will write, Michael? you will not leave me'—and then she hastily substituted 'us'—'in complete silence? You may be away six months—a whole year—it may even be longer.'
'Yes, it may be longer,' he returned; and now it was he who was the calmer of the two. 'It is impossible for either of us to tell now how long my exile may last; but I will write—not often, and perhaps I may not even speak of this that has passed between us; but I shall write, and you will find no difficulty in answering my letters.'
And when he had said this he looked at her very kindly and then without another word walked to the house.
CHAPTER XLIX
'LET YOUR HEART PLEAD FOR ME'
| 'We were apart; yet day by day I bade my heart more constant be. I bade it keep the world away, And grow a home for only thee; Nor fear'd but thy love likewise grew, Like mine, each day, more tried, more true.' Matthew Arnold. |