"Love is stronger than death; many waters cannot quench it."
His hands quivered, his whole body trembled, and I thought he was going to clasp me to his breast as before, but he only drew down my forehead with his hot hand and kissed it.
That was all, but a blinding mist seemed to pass before my eyes, and when it cleared the door of the room was open and my Martin was gone.
I stood where he had left me and listened.
I heard his strong step on the stone flags of the hall—he was going out at the porch.
I heard the metallic clashing of the door of the automobile—he was already in the car.
I heard the throb of the motor and ruckling of the gravel of the path—he was moving away.
I heard the dying down of the engine and the soft roll of the rubber wheels—I was alone.
For some moments after that the world seemed empty and void. But the feeling passed, and when I recovered my strength I found Martin's letter in my moist left hand.
Then I knelt before the fire, and putting the letter into the flames I burnt it.