"I believe you."
"That's right!" cried Ralph. "It wasn't father. Now he's angry with me."
"He will forgive you, and I must also, and try to be stern enough to put you a little out of love with me for the future."
"You will never do that. I must go on loving you if you cannot be—Oh dear! I nearly said something. I must go to sleep and forget."
Ralph looked weary, and closed his eyes, saying, "I will hold your hand; it helps me to sleep."
Soon his quiet breathing told of unconsciousness, and the watchers rejoiced that the excitement was past, though it had left him exhausted.
"Ralph was right," said the captain, in a low tone. "Having given the whole heart, one must go on loving, if return be hopeless."
"That is not Ralph's case. We all love the boy," said Kathleen.
"I know, and am grateful. The case is mine. I have given my whole heart to one who deserves that of the best and noblest of mankind. So I have no hope. I will not be wicked enough to ask for a return;" and he looked eloquently at the girl.
Kathleen understood. This man loved her, but was too honest to ask her to link her fate with his.