“You shame me,” was all he said.
“No, no.”
“What am I, that you should treat me thus?”
“Ah, is it so strange?”
“It is marvellous, beyond belief.”
She put his hands from her very gently, rose up, and stood at her full height, looking out towards the sea. The blood had risen again from her heart; her lips were no longer tremulous; her eyes shone more bright with hope. Gabriel watched her, holding close under the pine-tree so that he stood in shadow, while Joan breathed in the sun. The scene was figurative to him of her finer beauty of soul.
“Gabriel,” she said at last, turning her head so that he saw her pure, strong profile and then the sunlight in her eyes.
“I am listening.”
“Can you believe me? but I had half prayed for this.”
“Joan!”