hesitated, then added: "It may as well out now, for time is
short, though I have often sworn that nothing should make me say it: I
love you."

She did not start or even stir at his words, but sat staring as before
into the darkness: only a pink flush grew upon the pallor of her neck
and cheek as she answered:

"You love me, Leonard? You forget--Jane Beach!"

"It is perfectly true, Juanna, that I was once attached to Jane Beach,
and it is true that I still think of her with affection, but I have not
seen her for many years, and I am certain that she has thrown me over
and married another man. Most man pass through several affairs of the
heart in their early days; I have had but one, and it is done with.

"When first I saw you in the slave camp I loved you, Juanna, and I have
gone on loving you ever since, even after I became aware from your words
and conduct that you did not entertain any such affection for myself. I
know that your mind has not changed upon the matter, for had it done so,
you would scarcely have spoken to me as you did to-day after Olfan left
us. Indeed, I do not altogether understand why I have told you this,
since it will not interest you very much and may possibly annoy you
in your last hours. I suppose it was because I wished to make a clean
breast of it before I pass to where we lose all our loves and hopes."

"Or find them," said Juanna, still looking before her.

Then there was silence for a minute or more, till Leonard, believing
that he had got his answer, began to think that he would do well to
leave her for a while. Just as he was about to rise Juanna made a gentle
movement; slowly, very slowly, she turned herself, slowly she stretched
out her arms towards him, and laid her head upon his breast.

For a moment Leonard was astounded; he could scarcely believe the
evidence of his senses. Then recovering himself, he kissed her tenderly.

Presently Juanna slipped from his embrace and said, "Listen to me,
Leonard: are men all blind, I wonder, or are you an exception? I don't
know and don't want to know, but certainly it does seem strange that
what has been so painfully patent to myself for the last five or six
months, should have been invisible to you. Leonard, you were not the
only one who fell in love yonder in the slave camp. But you quickly
checked my folly by telling me the story of Jane Beach, and of course
after that, whatever my thoughts may have been, I did my utmost to hide
them f