't exactly thought. I've only felt. That
night at Toudja, I knew it would be worse than death to have to keep my
word to her. I wouldn't have been sorry if they'd killed me then, after
you said--that is, after I had the memory of a moment or two of
happiness to take to the next world."

"Ah, that's because I let you see I loved you," Victoria explained
softly, and a little shyly. "I told you I wouldn't misunderstand, and I
don't. Just for a minute I was hurt--my heart felt sick, because I
couldn't bear to think--to think less highly of you. But it was only for
a minute. Then I began to understand--so well! And I think you are even
better than I thought before--more generous, and chivalrous. You were
sorry for _her_ in those days of her trouble, and then you were engaged,
and you meant to marry her and make her happy. But at Toudja I showed
you what was in my heart--even now I'm not ashamed that I did, because
I knew you cared for me."

"I worshipped you, only less than I do now," Stephen broke in. "Every
day I love you more--and will to the end of my life. You can't send me
away. You can't send me to another woman."

"I can, for my sake and yours both, because if I kept you, feeling that
I was wronging some one, neither of us could be happy. But I want you to
know I understand that you have _me_ to be sorry for now, as well as
her, and that you're torn between us both, hardly seeing which way
honour lies. I'm sure you would have kept true to her, if you hadn't
hated to make me unhappy. And instead of needing to forgive you, I will
ask you to forgive me, for making things harder."

"You've given me the only real happiness I've ever known since I was a
boy," Stephen said.

"If that's true--and it must be, since you say it--neither of us is to
be pitied. I shall be happy always because you loved me enough to be
made happy by my love. And you must be happy because you've done right,
and made me love you more. I don't think there'll be any harm in our not
trying to forget, do you?"

"I could as easily forget to breathe."

"So could I. Ever since the first night I met you, you have seemed
different to me from any other man I ever knew, except an ideal man who
used to live in the back of my mind. Soon, that man and you grew to be
one. You wouldn't have me separate you from him, would you?"

"If you mean that you'll separate me from your ideal unless I marry
Margot Lorenzi, then divide me from that cold perfection fore