"You do love me?" she said.
"Indeed, yes! And you?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
He clasped her in his arms with redoubled ardour, and pressed her to his breast and kissed her. The love so long pent up was bursting out like a liberated cataract that sweeps the snow and the ice before it.
All at once the girl who had been so brave in the great battle of her love became weak and womanish in the moment of her victory. Under the warmth of his tenderness she dropped her head on to his breast to conceal her face in her shame.
"You will never think the worse of me?" she faltered.
"The worse of you! For loving me?"
"For telling you so and forcing myself into your life?"
"My darling, no!"
She lifted her head, and he kissed away the tears that were shining in her eyes.