"Think, Pat." His voice was very gentle.
Her dark, delicate brows drew down in concentration. "Yes; I think I do see. You mean you would not have kissed me that way without—without thinking a lot of me."
"I mean that I should not be here now if I were not deeply and wholly in love with you."
"And you're telling me to keep me from feeling ashamed of myself."
"Yes. There is nothing shameful in my feeling for you, inexcusable as it is."
"I think," she pronounced slowly, "you're the most divine man I've ever met."
"Oh, no," he refuted bitterly. "Just a weakling. But I give you my word, dear love, if I could have foreseen this I would have gone to the farthest corner of the earth rather than have it come about."
She lifted startled and wondering eyes to his. "Why?"
"You know how things are with me, Pat. You know I'm not free."