She understood him with a sudden flash of sympathy.
“Ah! forgive me.”
Her fingers touched his and closed upon them with a quick, appealing pressure. Her face was turned to his with the rich innocence of truth.
“No,” he said, breathing fast; “do not touch me. Ah, God, do you not understand?”
She withdrew her hand, and her face grew pale again, her eyes shadowy even as with tears.
“Forgive me,” she said, slowly, as though speaking to her own soul. “I had hurt your heart and—”
“It is nothing,” he said to her.
“It is everything—to me,” she answered, sadly.
“Before God—remember that I honor you.”
She looked up at him suddenly with a great light in her eyes.