'But haven't you any pity for yourself? Haven't you any thought for Lucy?'
'Must I tell you, too, that everything I did was for Lucy's sake? And still I love her with all my heart and soul.'
There was no bitterness in his tone now; it was gentle and resigned. He had, indeed, won the battle. Julia's eyes were filled with tears, and she could not answer. He came forward and shook hands with her.
'You mustn't cry,' he said, smiling. 'You're one of those persons whose part it is to bring sunshine into the lives of those with less fortunate dispositions. You must always be happy and childlike.'
'I've got lots of handkerchiefs, thanks,' she sobbed, laughing the while.
'You must forget all the nonsense I've talked to you,' he said.
He smiled once more and was gone.
Dick was sitting in his bedroom, reading an evening paper, and she flung herself sobbing into his arms.
'Oh, Dick, I've had such a lovely cry, and I'm so happy and so utterly wretched. And I'm sure I shall have a red nose.'
'Darling, I've long discovered that you only weep because you're the only person in the world to whom it's thoroughly becoming.'