people _could_ say such shameful things,'
he said gravely.

It tormented him a little because it had been so easy to care nothing
for the world's adulation, and it was so hard to care as little for its
censure. He felt very bitter.

He took Lucy's hand and made her sit on the sofa by his side.

'There's something I must tell you at once.'

She looked at him without answering.

'I've made up my mind to give no answer to the charges that are brought
against me.'

Lucy looked up quickly, and their eyes met.

'I give you my word of honour that I've done nothing which I regret. I
swear to you that what I did was right with regard to George, and if it
were all to come again I would do exactly as I did before.'

She did not answer for a long time.

'I never doubted you for a single moment,' she said at last.

'That is all I care about.' He looked down, and there was a certain
shyness in his voice when he spoke again. 'To-day is the first time I've
wanted to be assured that I was trusted; and yet I'm ashamed to want
it.'

'Don't be too hard upon yourself,' she said gently. 'You're so afraid of
letting your tenderness appear.'

He seemed to give earnest thought to what she said. Lucy had never seen
him more grave.

'The only way to be strong is _never_ to surrender to one's weakness.
Strength is merely a habit. I want you to be strong, too. I want you
never to doubt me whatever you hear said.'

'I gave my brother into your hands, and I said that if he died a brave
man's death, I could ask for no more. You told me that such a death was
his.'

'I thought of you always, and everything I did was for your sake. Every
single act of mine during these four years in Africa has been done
because I loved you.'

It was the first time since his return that he had spoken of love. Lucy
bent her head still lower.

'Do you remember, I asked you a question before I went away? You refused
to marry me then, but you told me that if I asked again when I came
back, the answer might be different.'

'Yes.'

'The hope bore me up in every difficulty and in every danger. And when I
came back I dared not ask you at once; I was so afraid that you would
refuse once more. And I didn't wish you to think yourself bound by a
vague promise. But each day I loved you more passionately.'

'I knew, and I was very grateful for your love.'

'Yesterday I could have offered you a certain name. I only cared for the
honours they gave me so that