"Isobel!" I said hoarsely—"Isobel, forgive me! I was a cad, a villain... to him. But—it was inevitable. Try to forget that I was so weak. But, Isobel—"
I felt her hand trembling on my arm.
"We must both try to forget, Jack," she whispered.
I grasped her hands and looked eagerly—indeed I think wildly—into her eyes.
"Because my life is over if I lose you," I said, "I suppose I was mad for a moment. Tell me that one day—when it is fit and proper that you should do so—you will give me a hearing, and I will perform any penance you choose. I acted like a blackguard."
"Stop!" she commanded softly.
She raised her eyes, and her grave, sweet glance cooled the fever which consumed me and brought a great and abiding peace to my heart.
"You were no more to blame than I!" she said. "And because—I understand, it is not hard to forgive. I don't try to excuse myself, but even if—he—had lived, I could never have gone on with it, after his ... suspicions. Oh, Jack! why did you leave me to make that awful mistake?"
"My dearest," I replied, "God knows I have suffered for it."
"Please," she said, and her voice faltered, "help me to be fair to ... him. Never—never—speak to me again—like that ... until—"