"Then you think if you had remained a materialist——"
"I should have perished," he interrupted, gravely, "and I use that word in no thoughtless sense. But God sent me you——" then he paused, and for awhile silence fell.
When they began to talk again it was about some entirely different matter.
A few days later he called to say good-bye. He was going back to Reboth again the following day. For a full hour they chatted in the freest manner about matters of no importance. Then he rose suddenly and began to button his coat. He shook hands with her in silence and reached the door. For a moment he paused with his hand on the knob, then turned hurriedly round and faced her. His face was very pale, his lips were trembling.
"Madeline," he said, "I cannot go away without telling you that I love you. I belong to you. To you I owe more than life. I owe all that makes life worth living. You befriended me in my hour of greatest need. You led me out of darkness into the light. Will you be my inspiration still, my companion, the light of my eyes?"
He paused, almost breathless with the earnestness of his speech.
She stood looking at him, all the colour gone out of her face.
"Forgive me if I am presumptuous," he went on, in lower tones. "But I have loved you so long, so hopelessly, so passionately, that I could not keep the truth back any longer. Yet if you say there is no hope for me I will not trouble you again."
She came toward him slowly, a great light shining in her eyes, and placed her hands in his.