If you were to say it to
me now I should have to send you away and--oh, believe me, I do not
want to do that. I--I--"
"You love no one else?" he cried, rapturously.
She swayed slightly, as if incapable of resisting the appeal that
called her to his heart. Her lips were parted, her eyes glowed
luminously even in the shadows, and she scarcely breathed the words:
"I love no one else."
A less noble nature than his would have seized upon the advantage
offered by her sudden weakness. Instead, he drew a long, deep breath,
straightened his figure and as he gently released the imprisoned
hand, the prince in him spoke.
"You have asked me to wait. I am sure that you know what is in my
heart. It will always be there. It will not cut and slash and stab,
for it is the most tender thing that has ever come into my life--or
yours. It must never be accused of giving pain to you, so I shall
obey you--and wait. You are right to avoid the risk of entrusting a
single word of hope to me. I am a passer-by. My sincerity, my honesty
of purpose remain to be proved.
Pages:
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390