Helen looked at him steadily for a moment before replying. “Yes,” she said, at length, making a desperate effort to preserve her composure; “I forgive you gladly. Shall we go on with the story?”
“No!” he replied, almost fiercely, seizing the volume and placing it beyond her reach upon the couch. “I have been waiting for this moment too long, and now nothing shall take it from me.”
Helen realized that it was also the moment for which she had been waiting, and which she had been dreading beyond expression. Now he would comprehend what she had meant, now he would struggle with her to prevent her from doing what she knew she must do.
“There is no need of explanation, Jack,” she said, at length. “I understand everything, and have understood for a long time.”
“Can you believe that I myself have only recently come to a realization?”
“Yes; it has come to you sooner than I had expected.”
“Can you believe how sincerely pained I am that all this should have happened?”
“I have never for a moment thought that you would intentionally hurt me.”
“Then you do understand, and will forget?”
Armstrong sat up on the edge of the couch and watched Helen’s face intently.